One thing that is making me uneasy is the view of many Barca fans online. Many seem to think that Bartomeu is an idiot who will fuck things up by being greedy. Most seem resigned to Messi going with many feeling it would be best for all sides and would take either a player or a reasonable amount from City to start a rebuild but have no faith in Bartomeu doing this because of his ego. Barca fans believe he just doesn't want to be the one who let Messi go and since he is going soon he thinks this makes him look strong. If we are dealing with an ego like that then there may be no sensible way to resolve this.
EditedI’m impatient. If he doesn’t sign within the next 24 hours, call the whole thing off and move for Dwight Yorke instead.
Yeah, this is a fair take as well but I have long felt this was the endgame from Bartomeu & Rosell - to drive Leo out and restart. Would make sense since they have dismantled everything else Laporta erected during the club's peak
Ramon Besa with a pretty similar take to my own
That's how I see it. Huge power play between the two. Neither wants to be seen as the instigator/ bad guy. Compromise from both sides is the only way to resolve itA fan of 20 years who recognizes when Leo has made his mind up about something, coupled with the knowledge of how my club operates
You filter through all the noise and what is clear is the following:
1) Leo wants to leave Barca = he has never given this impression before and if there was such a rumour in the past, him or his people have responded via social media to squash it. That is not the case now. That seems like a small detail but it's key because it's consistent with the player
2) Leo wants to go to City - again, similar to first point
3) Barto seeks to limit the damage and fallout from said exit by positioning himself as favorably as possible - this is also consistent with him
The only question marks are around the costs of the operation - mostly if there will be a fee, player exchange etc. that Barto will accept. The other question is whether this simply is a chess match being played out in the public domain to seek the path of least resistance while achieving your primary objectives - that applies for both Leo & Barto
Messi loves the club and would not want to hurt it proactively but I am sure he would love to leave Barto on the hook for a massive fallout - the anger & mistrust runs deep. But both sides recognize how big this is and will want to be careful
The will of the player is clear, that's what matters most to me - how we get there, impossible to predict but we will get there
Is anyone on hereYou ITK ?
It's interesting and unusual that so many Barcelona fans are sympathetic to the player in this situation.
EzzyIs anyone on here
It's interesting and unusual that so many Barcelona fans are sympathetic to the player in this situation.
Tolmie is, duhIs anyone on here
This is how I see it. He might stay because Barto essentially enforces it through his demands. I personally believe it’s irrefutable that Messi wants to leave and with that his preferred destination is City. Now it’s just a game of chess between City and Barca with both clubs knowing he’ll definitely come here on a free next year if a deal can’t be made.A fan of 20 years who recognizes when Leo has made his mind up about something, coupled with the knowledge of how my club operates
You filter through all the noise and what is clear is the following:
1) Leo wants to leave Barca = he has never given this impression before and if there was such a rumour in the past, him or his people have responded via social media to squash it. That is not the case now. That seems like a small detail but it's key because it's consistent with the player
2) Leo wants to go to City - again, similar to first point
3) Barto seeks to limit the damage and fallout from said exit by positioning himself as favorably as possible - this is also consistent with him
The only question marks are around the costs of the operation - mostly if there will be a fee, player exchange etc. that Barto will accept. The other question is whether this simply is a chess match being played out in the public domain to seek the path of least resistance while achieving your primary objectives - that applies for both Leo & Barto
Messi loves the club and would not want to hurt it proactively but I am sure he would love to leave Barto on the hook for a massive fallout - the anger & mistrust runs deep. But both sides recognize how big this is and will want to be careful
The will of the player is clear, that's what matters most to me - how we get there, impossible to predict but we will get there
This is how I see it. He might stay because Barto essentially enforces it through his demands. I personally believe it’s irrefutable that Messi wants to leave and with that his preferred destination is City. Now it’s just a game of chess between City and Barca with both clubs knowing he’ll definitely come here on a free next year if a deal can’t be made.
I also (think) I heard on the 93:20 podcast that Messi will earn a 75m euro bonus next year if he sees out his contract? If that’s true and they still don’t agree to selling him then you have to think they’ve completely lost their marbles and it is will set them back years.
Aren’t we back in training on Monday so with the quarantine rules from Spain how can pep be in Barcelona this weekend?My best advice is to try and ignore the current brief game. Barto is playing chicken with the Messi camp to extract a massive fee for him. This has always been their end game. He should be careful though because at some point Messi will publicly ask to leave. Then the circus will force the sale IMO at a price agreeable to our side.