When you come at the king, you better not miss.
I believe our board's aim to be still true and good.
The publishing of Messi's financial package clearly had multifaceted objectives.
To bracket Messi and also justify to the Barcelona supporters why he must be allowed to leave, whilst also deligitimising his next destination, posing questions of that club's funding ability to justify it.
More so City than PSG, due to recent relations.
New York can't do this without City, City can't do it without New York, certainly if he intends to play at the top level for another couple of years.
Paris has its obvious attractions from a lifestyle perspective, as does the fact he can get a direct flight from CDG to Buenos Aires, something Sergio already has to avail himself of, each time he wants to go home.
All the same, City need to emerge from the post-Covid era with the best possible chance to ramp up revenues, while also remaining competitive for Pep during his own three years left at the club.
Perhaps Messi is a Hail Mary for many different reasons inside City, certainly if it also means Pep winning the Champions League during his remaining tenure here?
I'd say all roads still lead to Messi unless he decides otherwise.
We could only afford him last summer if he walked away for free and he wasn't talking to Paris then, so why should things be any different.
Our unique selling point wasn't and isn't purely about money, he can get that and more from other places.
It's about environment, enjoying it, perhaps with people he trusts and have always respected his own wishes.