Lionel Messi | Joins Inter Miami (pg4111)

[citizen_maine]

They have created a situation, of the pretence of everyone keeping their word. Or rather, being seen to keep their word. The first one to blink, unravels the lot, but is also the scapegoat.

Last summer messi snapped, handed in his notice, announced henwas off and unleashed criticism of the board. Fucking shitshow, can't do that at Barcelona pal, the lot ganged up on stopping him leaving, ready to destroy his legacy, leak his countract, etc etc. Tebas, barcelona, the spanish media, the cules, the lot.

New president comes in on a promise to keep messi and a message of love. And has taken it on himself to speak for messi, what money he will accept, what project he needs, that he wants to stay, and that he will make it happen. That's his word now.

Messi has said he will honour his contract, not speak to any clubs before the end, and decide his future after. The copa is now the only focus. In some ways, kept his word. Said nothing to deny Laporta's claims on his behalf, said nothing to confirm them.

Tebas has claimed barcelona need to lower wages, if they want to sign messi, or any other players.

Pep has consistently said, when asked, messi should finish his career at Barca. Suggesting that we are bot interested, and unlikely to try lure messi away from where he 'belongs'.


So it is all on Laporta and Barcelona now. If he pulls it off, and messi ends up there, without tebas yielding, and us not getting drawn in publicly, everyone has kept their word.

If not, a case of who blinks first.
If Laporta is furst to suggest keeping messi wont work, messi looks at his options, city/pep publicly goes after him (may well already have done behind the scenes obvs)
If Messi goes first, he wanted to stay but it is clear things are tough and both Barcelona and He need to move on, City can then again publicly engage, laporta tried, tebas remained firm
Or, we 'put an offer in' as messi is now a free agent for some time, and messi is tempted, then as above. Which i doubt would happen, we seem to be staying well out of this one till all the dust settles.

As far as I'm aware, Messi has said nothing since last summer. City have said nothing.
The only ones saying anything are Barca.
I don't think City do anything (publicly) until Messi speaks

 

[DanJ210]

As far as I'm aware, Messi has said nothing since last summer. City have said nothing.
The only ones saying anything are Barca.
I don't think City do anything (publicly) until Messi speaks

messi has said a few things in interviews since last summer

 

[nmc]

Indeed Bob,if they are giving them termination letters or similar I wonder do they pay up the remaining contract you would think they would have too..

Yes - they’d have to pay up every cent of the contract unless the player agrees to a variation of the contract. Also worth remembering that Barca owe a fortune in terms of transfers- where they let a player leave I’m not sure if they can continue to pay transfer fees on the drip feed or if they have to pay up in full.

 

[Newman Noggs]

The devil in me wants City to enter the fray and start mixing it even if we're not interested just to add to Barca's woes.

 

[simon23]

To be fair what choice do Barcelona have? Sentimentality and principles cost money they don’t have.

they should have ran their finances better then sholdnt they...instead of being aprt of a group trying to sabotage city at every opportinuty they should have got their own house in check regarding money...

Zero sympathy for the club or the people who run it

 

[citizen_maine]

messi has said a few things in interviews since last summer

I'm sure he has. But anything of relevance to his transfer situation? :-)

 

[Coatigan]

As far as I'm aware, Messi has said nothing since last summer. City have said nothing.
The only ones saying anything are Barca.
I don't think City do anything (publicly) until Messi speaks

He did, just before the January window opened. He said he wouldnt speak to any clubs, would decide at the end of his contract. It was clearly to stop january window speculation as at that point he could listen to offers from clubs outwith spain

edit, it also helped laporta make his election pledge

 

[nmc]

That's called denial and unwilling to accept the situation.

So Barca are off loading player after player yet they've signed 3 players on frees and these players all wanted to sign for Barca for the love of the club?

I'm sure these players agent's knew that Barca are skint, that they are releasing players and that the Messi situation is, for want of a better word, messy.

Like I've alluded to countless times, they've had since January to thrash out a new deal, nothing to do with him being away for the Copa America, a happy Messi would have resigned in a heartbeat, the fact that he hasn't tells you quite a lot.

Something just doesn’t add up though… if you need to lose €100m from your wage bill and you want to sign Messi to a new contract - why bring in 3 new players…. On the face of it it’s madness. The only explanation I can think of is it is all smoke and mirrors and Barca will be allowed to breach league rules and carry on as before… it’s not like there isn’t precedent. Cheats are always cheats.

 

[citizen_maine]

He did, just before the January window opened. He said he wouldnt speak to any clubs, would decide at the end of his contract. It was clearly to stop january window speculation as at that point he could listen to offers from clubs outwith spain

edit, it also helped laporta make his election pledge

So basically, no commitment to re-sign

 

[nmc]

with Barca looking to pay only statutory redundancy payment.........

That’s fine but in the case of a fixed term contract - they’d have to settle the outstanding amount in full… unless the player agrees otherwise - which they are unlikely to agree to in this financial climate.