Lionel Messi | Joins Inter Miami (pg4111)

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Allowing Sergio and Fern's deals to elapse this summer is worth roughly £350k a week to City, that is obviously a big chunk of change.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Devil's advocate.

Give Kun a new deal or sign Messi?

(you can't have both)

Putting aside the fact that I think it's both or neither, as Messi will only come if Sergio stays, and we won't keep Sergio if we don't have to...

Messi. Every time.

 

[BillyShears]

Of course, mate, but Messi and Sergio are pals for obvious reasons, also, they have similar likes and traits?

Both are intensely private and Sergio does appear to be lonely in the interviews he has given when his son Benjamin isn't staying with him?

Transitioning from Barcelona to Manchester would be a massive challenge for Messi, having lined nowhere else for decades, all the stuff that brilliant city offers.

Whilst Pep could transition easier because he is the manager and is constantly preoccupied with team affairs, a player like Messi would need to have an ally like Sergio, perhaps?

It will be a circus with fanboys and paps congregating each day he leaves his Cheshire compound.

I think it's always nice to have a mate in the squad when you join, so absolutely I'm sure Leo would love Kun to still be around. I just don't see it being a deal breaker. Either he wants another European adventure or he wants to go to the States.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

We need to offload Mahrez, Mendy and replace Carson with an u21 if we want to sign a LB, Messi, Striker and keep Fernandinho and Aguero.

That's going to be a tough ask. Mahrez isn't playing great and I thought PSG might fancy him with Draxler and Di Maria leaving, but Pochettino isn't the kind of coach who'd want Mahrez.

Mendy...where to start. We might end up paying most of his wages like Adebayor, or just leaving him out of the squad like Nasri.

Absolutely agree with your assessment. Mahrez isn't getting any younger (or better), is one of the highest earners at the club.

I would hope City could get creative on both Mahrez and Mendy, using them as possible makeweights, otherwise we might be stuck until they walk.

I remain a fan of Jesus but don't see the improvement we need, certainly interesting hearing Pep highlight his lack of goals this season, probably just a gee-up...

Might be worth persevering for another year as his wages don't break the bank.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

We need to offload Mahrez, Mendy and replace Carson with an u21 if we want to sign a LB, Messi, Striker and keep Fernandinho and Aguero.

That's going to be a tough ask. Mahrez isn't playing great and I thought PSG might fancy him with Draxler and Di Maria leaving, but Pochettino isn't the kind of coach who'd want Mahrez.

Mendy...where to start. We might end up paying most of his wages like Adebayor, or just leaving him out of the squad like Nasri.

Carson is the easy one, just leave him out of the UCL squad (we should have enough room in the Prem squad). Mendy should be a goner, as should Mahrez. I reckon Dinho and Aguero are off as well, that leaves 5 spaces.

Messi
Haaland
Grealish
DM
LB

Would be a pretty perfect summer.

 

[Kazzydeyna]

Devil's advocate.

Give Kun a new deal or sign Messi?

(you can't have both)

Kun. Every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I think it's always nice to have a mate in the squad when you join, so absolutely I'm sure Leo would love Kun to still be around. I just don't see it being a deal breaker. Either he wants another European adventure or he wants to go to the States.

Maybe, but it could still make more sense for Paris to sell one of Mbappe or Neymar/both and get Messi and Sergio for free!!

Anyway, Pep signing that new deal when he did sealed it for me.

 

[BillyShears]

Maybe, but it could still make more sense for Paris to sell one of Mbappe or Neymar/both and get Messi and Sergio for free!!

Anyway, Pep signing that new deal when he did sealed it for me.

Paris would be mad to swap two players in their prime for 2 thirty somethings! Neymar's agreed a new deal anyway, and I suspect that Mbappe will in the coming months too.

The real rival for Messi will be the MLS franchises and whoever the new Barca president is.

 

[BillyShears]

Kun. Every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I admire your sentimentality but that's about it ;)

 

[01cravend]

Kun. Every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

You'd rather watch Aguero on twitch for another season than see Messi pull on our shirt? Even with sentimentality thrown in, that's mental.

 

[meeesh]

Reading these last few pages,I'm more excited of the fact that Mahrez and Mendy could be gone,more pleasing than the arrival of Messi for me..........................as long as Aguero stays of course

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Maybe, but it could still make more sense for Paris to sell one of Mbappe or Neymar/both and get Messi and Sergio for free!!

Anyway, Pep signing that new deal when he did sealed it for me.

Isn’t Neymar signing a new deal with PSG? I think the issue for PSG and Messi is Mbappe. they’re unlikely to afford the wages for all 3.

The only clubs who can afford Mbappe are Real, united, possibly Liverpool and ourselves. United will be back for Sancho, Real are making noises about a quieter summer and Liverpool would have to sell either Salah or Mane, very difficult in the current environment. That leaves us and PSG won’t sell to us. Probably means Mbappe is stuck in France for another season.

 

[domalino]

The real rival for Messi will be the MLS franchises and whoever the new Barca president is.

I know why you're saying that but I genuinely don't think Barcelona are a threat at all. Look at the squad. Look at the finances.

As Messi said recently when asked if he wanted Neymar back "Who's going to pay for it?" They can't afford 5-10m for Eric Garcia, how can they build a CL winning side?

 

[wolviedinho]

Some very positive comments from Tolmie & Billy. Sergio staying for at least another year is fundamental to Messi joining IMO. We have plenty of players to offload before we go for a legend. Sergio’s contract would need to reflect were he is now in terms of fitness and age.

The club can finance Messi without sales or wage adjustment.

In an ideal world we sell Mendy and FFS.

 

[SWP's back]

Officially.

I have more than half a dozen western footballers as clients bud. The pay isn’t that great. It’s essentially lower PL level, just tax free as a better take home.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Messi would obviously solve an issue for two years but we still won't have addressed replacing Sergio or Messi, for that matter?

Might have a big bearing on the decision for Sergio this summer, freeing up cash?

 

[meeesh]

Messi would obviously solve an issue for two years but we still won't have addressed replacing Sergio or Messi, for that matter?

Might have a big bearing on the decision for Sergio this summer, freeing up cash?

His wages are that crippling so to speak ?

 

[BillyShears]

I know why you're saying that but I genuinely don't think Barcelona are a threat at all. Look at the squad. Look at the finances.

As Messi said recently when asked if he wanted Neymar back "Who's going to pay for it?" They can't afford 5-10m for Eric Garcia, how can they build a CL winning side?

I agree, but I'm wary of something which nobody has considered. Barca's finance are so bad that there is talk of them becoming a PLC to raise cash. I can envisage a scenario where Laporta offer Messi actual OWNERSHIP of the club in lieu of a massive contract or some kind of deal which guarantees him a % of the club if he stays and retires there.

It's pretty far fetched I accept, but I've heard from a few people the potential presidents are all aware that it may be time to move away from the socio model.

 

[BillyShears]

Messi would obviously solve an issue for two years but we still won't have addressed replacing Sergio or Messi, for that matter?

Might have a big bearing on the decision for Sergio this summer, freeing up cash?

I see it like this.

Haaland replaces Aguero's wages.

Messi pays for himself as per Omar's interview with the Athletic.

If they wanna keep Aguero, they should find a buyer for Jesus and then buy Haaland.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a box office summer!

 

[The1nvisibleMan]

I see it like this.

Haaland replaces Aguero's wages.

Messi pays for himself as per Omar's interview with the Athletic.

If they wanna keep Aguero, they should find a buyer for Jesus and then buy Haaland.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a box office summer!

Is there any chance that Aguero would take a pay cut to reflect his lack of playing time just to stay around with Messi?