If Lionel Messi’s mind is made up to leave Barcelona, the question turns to where he goes next. Messi, who joined the club at the age of 13, has been with them for 20 seasons.
The Argentine national star has continued with Barcelona as it was a ‘winning project’. But the last season at Camp Nou has not only been devoid of trophies, but was defined by chaos and ended in humiliation. The club was Champions League campaign came to a halt after a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinal, the first time since 2007 that Barcelona left the tournament without a trophy.
Days after the defeat, the 33-year-old informed the club that he did not intend to stay on. His decision is not aimed at putting his feet up for the final years of his career. This is a considered move aimed at bolstering his successes, and in one competition in particular.
The Champions League has become his obsession, which puts all of Europe’s super-clubs in contention and eliminates the less intensive, or more romantic, options, at least for now.
Messi has a base salary of around 60 million euros per year, but what would make a trasnfer tricky is the 700 million euros release clause.
Here are the clubs that could afford Lionel Messi and also help the footballer pursue his goal of adding more titles:
Manchester City
Manchester City appear to be the favourites to get Messi off the transfer market. Not only do they have the funds, but coach Pep Guardiola and Messi share a good rapport. The club also has sporting director Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano in their ranks, both of whom have connections with Barcelona.
Messi could propel them in the Champions League and launch the City brand, so important to the club’s Abu Dhabi owners, to a different level.
If City could be seen to be offering a safe haven for Messi’s desire to go, rather than snatching him away, it would surely be an opportunity they could not pass up.
PSG
Paris Saint-Germain lost to Bayern Munich in their first-ever Champions League final last week. They have broken new grounds since getting Neymar and Kylian Mbappe on board in 2017. But they still haven’t been able to life the coveted Champions League trophy.
For PSG, whose frustration in Europe has been comparable to City’s, Messi would also represent a seismic addition to the Qatari project.
A Neymar-Messi-Kylian Mbappe front three would not be a difficult sell.
Inter Milan
Inter Milan’s pitch would be more personal, given Messi’s father Jorge has reportedly bought a house close to the club’s offices while the Italian outfit have fostered close relations with the Messi family for years.
With Antonio Conte as coach and ambitious Chinese owners, Messi might be drawn to Inter, where the tax regulations would be less punitive and the disapproval less pronounced, given the club’s history and tradition.
None of the options are without risk. Of the leading trio, only Inter have ever won the Champions League but even that was in 2010.
Success is not guaranteed for club or player, with Messi enduring an injury-interrupted season himself last term.
Also read: Lionel Messi – Barcelona’s greatest player to leave behind a legacy
Clubs which ‘may’ have difficulties in buying Messi
On the back of their Champions League triumph, Bayern Munich are the pre-eminent force in Europe but they are unlikely to be able to afford Messi.
The same goes for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, as well as Juventus, who remain restricted by the enormous outlay needed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo two years ago.
Perhaps Ronaldo’s transfer, which is yet to deliver Juve the European success they hoped it would, might even make some of Messi’s potential suitors nervous.
Madrid, meanwhile, would love nothing more than to prize Messi from their rivals – and they have tried before – but even if Messi wants to leave Barca, he is not out to burn his reputation and legacy.
