Mercato – Manchester city: Messi and Bartomeu don’t close the doors
Barça: Messi and Bartomeu do not intend to give up at all
While Lionel Messi wants to leave FC Barcelona, his father has already started discussions with Manchester City. The English club holds the rope well in this matter. Messi wants to leave Barça! What a story! On Tuesday evening, Lionel Messi (33 years old) officially informed the FC Barcelona of his desire to terminate his contract.
Information that caused a real earthquake on the soccer planet. Since then, the case of the Argentinian striker has inflamed the world press and everyone is trying to find out where the Pulga could land if his departure is confirmed. Messi’s father is in Manchester! Everything leads us to believe that Manchester City is indeed the big favourite to get the Barça superstar back.
According to the media RAC1 and TyC Sports, Messi’s father has arrived in Manchester to begin negotiations with the Citizens. The discussions would be about a two-year contract.
As a reminder, the Argentinian, who would have already warned Josep Guardiola of his choice, thinks that he can activate a clause to be released from his contract, but the Barça insists that it expired in June. If the native of Rosario succeeds in doing so, Manchester City will not have to pay any transfer fee.
He will still have to pay the Barcelona native’s salary, currently estimated at around 71 million euros gross per year in Catalonia. Emoluments that have cooled the PSG, where a leader described “Operation Messi as impossible” in the columns of L’Equipe. And also Bayern Munich, according to Bild.
Manchester City is also preparing a bid for Barça, but Manchester City anticipates all scenarios. Should Messi fail to be released from his contract, ESPN announces that the Skyblues are ready to pay out between 100 and 150 million euros.
Central defender Eric Garcia and left-back Angelino, two players targeted by Barça, would be included in the deal to raise the total amount of a possible transfer. Enough to convince the Blaugrana?
As a reminder, Messi’s release clause is set at 700 million euros. And Barça would not be ready to negotiate. Something tells us that this soap opera is set to last long weeks…
Manchester City, the best choice for Messi?
Bartomeu stands firm…
Indeed, according to the information of the Madrid daily AS this Thursday, the president of the Barça Josep Maria Bartomeu is ready to start an arm wrestling with the Albiceleste international. Unsurprisingly, the boss of the Catalan club refuses to hear about the departure of his star. Especially not for free.
Obviously reassured by his legal team concerning this exit clause, Bartomeu intends to claim, if Messi persists in the idea of a departure, the payment of his release clause fixed at 700 million euros. And of course, with UEFA’s financial fair play and the impact of the health crisis on the soccer economy, no team can afford such an operation.
Barça waiting In any case, even under pressure, Bartomeu does not give the impression of considering a possible resignation. The president of Barça still has the objective to discuss with Messi to try to convince him to stay. But for the moment the player refuses to meet him.
Faced with this situation, the Barça does not intend to communicate and is waiting for a public speech from the Albiceleste. A way of reversing the pressure by forcing him to explain himself to the socios.
TO BE CONTINUED….