Messi's next club: place your bets!

[Jaqen H'ghar]

The belittling of PSG and City does come across as bitter and delusional. I hate the idea of state funded clubs and buying success, and while it may be morally wrong, it's "legal". Times have changed, we need to understand this.

Arguing that we have 'higher stature' or are 'morally superior' while they are outperforming us is the equivalent of sticking your head in the sand. These teams present a challenge, either we recognize this, rise up to it and affirm our place, or accept our decline and live on our past and 'moral victories'.

Like a wise man once said: Put up or shut up.

 

[Phil Osophy]

Inter

 

[Borys]

If it's True he can go on a free, he will stay at Barca with tripled wages. If not, City.

 

[keithsingleton]

He's not going anywhere. As usual when his dummy comes out he throws tantrums.

 

[Dennis Viollet]

Fc Internazionale Milano

 

[PepG]

 

[Zehner]

Barca just should let him go. Him “leaving Barca” happened too many times. The club of Barca size shouldn’t tolerate such attitude.

Going to the court will be an utmost sign of desperation and humiliating for the club.

I’ve been always sympathetic to Barca and didn’t like Real. But credit to Real hierarchy, they know how to run a club. Real Madrid historically had the best management in football and there are 13 proofs in their trophy cabinet.

What attitude exactly?

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

What attitude exactly?

Him “leaving Barca” every year. If a player wants to leave, hire a band and arrange a farewell party immediately after finding a suitor.

 

[LucasXXII]

Let's not forget that all this "Messi runs Barca" talk in the end is just based on assumptions and media rumours. Messi himself named that as a reason why he thinks about leaving, other reports suggest.

So maybe, just maybe the guy isn't this evil genius of Machavellian dimensions but just a 33 year old player that is unhappy with the way the club is run, has given up hope for improvements and don't wants to spend his last career years (and title chances) on saving the arse of a president he and many of their fans despise.

The likes of Eto'o and Koeman have been recently quoted to say that "Messi is Barca and Barca is Messi".

I don't believe that he's a maniac politician in closet, but inadvertently he has become a figure of worship, with people putting him on a pedestal and some going as far as equating him to football itself.

Where I'm from I don't see a single Barcelona fan left. All have been saying that if Messi leaves then they wouldn't watch a Barcelona match again. Whatever that made up Barca's following in my country has been replaced by fans of Messi who'd follow him to whichever team he plays for.

I can't think of another word for this, and not to imply that Messi is "evil" in any way, but for a club like Barcelona it's a deal with the devil to have Messi as a club legend. He makes your club bigger than ever and wins you bags of trophies, but he essentially becomes what your club is about (for nonlocal fans at least) in the process, and when he's gone you have nothing left.

 

[LilyWhiteSpur]

Its gonna be City, and would bet he will be doing advertising for Etihad and getting paid his footballing wages that way.

 

[Barry Red]

My Spanish isn't good enough to bother looking at the RM fan boards but I'll bet they're missing themselves laughing. My bet is for Messi to stay and there be a change at board level.

 

[Zehner]

Him “leaving Barca” every year. If a player wants to leave, hire a band and arrange a farewell party immediately after finding a suitor.

That's media talk. Don't take every speculation a journo makes for granted. This is the first time he really wants to leave and it has built up throughout the last years under Bartomeu.

Should have you thinking that most Barca fans support Messi in this one. The club has been terribly run recently and without Messi, all this would have imploded years ago.

The likes of Eto'o and Koeman have been recently quoted to say that "Messi is Barca and Barca is Messi".

I don't believe that he's a maniac politician in closet, but inadvertently he has become a figure of worship, with people putting him on a pedestal and some going as far as equating him to football itself.

Where I'm from I don't see a single Barcelona fan left. All have been saying that if Messi leaves then they wouldn't watch a Barcelona match again. Whatever that made up Barca's following in my country has been replaced by fans of Messi who'd follow him to whichever team he plays for.

I can't think of another word for this, and not to imply that Messi is "evil" in any way, but for a club like Barcelona it's a deal with the devil to have Messi as a club legend. He makes your club bigger than ever and wins you bags of trophies, but he essentially becomes what your club is about (for nonlocal fans at least) in the process, and when he's gone you have nothing left.

Don't fuly agree but I can totally understand that opinion. I was referring more to the conspiracy theories that he secretly runs the club (secret government vs elected government etc.). Maybe the Messi departure is a blessing in disguise for the club.

 

[GatoLoco]

Pedrerol says he wants to go to City.

 

[stepic]

City is the only realistic destination. He can ‘retire’ in Italy later on, he’s still young enough to compete in the PL, and if he joins City they win the league, end of.

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

He could pick up a handy €5 million a week in China. He’s not going anywhere in reality.

 

[sun_tzu]

He could pick up a handy €5 million a week in China. He’s not going anywhere in reality.

actually I dont think he can
Salary cap for foreigners has been introduced $3.3m per year
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevep...of-january-2020-transfer-window/#57163f692d70
So hes not going to china and in reality as you say probably staying at Barca

 

[B20]

Wouldn't surprise me to see him go Argentina and tear it up there for the remainder of his career.

 

[One Night Only]

I thought MLS and Inter Miami would be his obvious destination, but not sure about their salary caps.

A shirt sponsor could fund this move (basically pay the wages) for most teams due to the sheer number of shirts he will sell.

 

[KirkDuyt]

He will go to Barcelona.

 

[GhastlyHun]

He will go to Barcelona.

You went completely mild here

 

[poleglass red]

Inter milan.

 

[GenZRed]

He'll go PSG I think.

Can't see him returning back to Argentina...they can't afford his £1m a week wages. He needs one final pay day.

If he stays at Barcelona he will ruin his legacy. The whole business is run to accommodate him.. its toxic for everyone.

Yeah because he is sort of money...

 

[FootballHQ]

PSG or Man. City.

PSG will surely go in hard given Neymar is there and might have a word (or they could just give Neymar back to Barca as a sweetner) and he can play at 50% in French league games and try to win them CL (bit like Ronaldo going to Juventus).

Feels a bit early for him to go back to Argentina and play for Newells Old Boys, if he was 35 then yeah as that's probably his plan after 2022 world cup.

 

[broccoli]

If he leaves Barca i only see him play for City under Guardiola and perhaps PSG. Juve and Inter couldn't afford him currently.

 

[Fosu-Mens]

PSG, City, Inter or getting the board replaced.

If he goes he will certainly get a high wage at those clubs and with hidden payments directly from the owners.

 

[tinfish]

Yeah because he is sort of money...

If you know South American culture - then you’ll know they like to accumulate money no matter how much. This is the same guy whose been trialled for tax evasion. Of course he’ll want more money.

When his career is over I can see him retiring from everything for good. As someone else picked up.. he’s not the sharpest knife in the draw.

 

[TheGame]

Even if he stays at Barca, there’s such a rebuild job to do there, you can’t see them winning trophies until it’s done. Plus Suarez set to leave as well.

 

[Red4Life_#7]

If Woodward and co. are serious about the brand and football of Manchester United, then they outbid City and other suitors. He is a true generational talent and definitely has a few years in the tank as his game doesn't rely on speed and power.

Give him what he wants haha! Sign him up woody!!

 

[Mogget]

A small part of me wants to see him go to City just to see him prove wrong those weirdos who think the PL is "too difficult" for him or the Ronaldo fanboys who downplay Messi's achievements because he's only played for Barca.

Plus, I don't really give a shit about City's achievements because of their funding, so even if he led them to a CL it's pretty meaningless.

 

[padr81]

Rumor has it in a couple of papers he's already rang Pep and asked if we're interested.

I find Messi coming to us quite intriguing for a couple of reasons.
He'd be a massive lift for us on the pitch and also a real boost off it. Another step towards us becoming a really big club. But there is a downside too.

Its a bit of a no win for Pep if he does. He comes and wins everything "Pep only wins with Messi" becomes very hard to argue against. If he comes and we fail Pep's career will take a massive beating. It will see a younger player like Mahrez or more likely Bernardo pushed aside.

That said any deal with depend on him having Barca let him go on a free and I just don't see it. I think heads will roll at Barca and Messi will eventually stay.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

https://www.oddschecker.com/footbal...ionel-messi/club-after-summer-transfer-window

Messi to stay at Barca 9/10.
Messi to City 11/8
Messi to United 20/1

 

[matt10000]

Millwall or Doncaster for sure - he has a point to prove!

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Rumor has it in a couple of papers he's already rang Pep and asked if we're interested.

ha ha!
So he called Pep and asked if City will sign him

 

[poleglass red]

I wouldn't write of Messi going to Rangers. They are looking to replace the on his way out Morales, and Messi's favourite player of all time is probably Stevie Me, well he's Jamie Carragher's favourite player and he knows football, so good chance he's Messi's hero.It's not a given but I'd say Rangers right now are clear favourites, due to Messi's admiration for Stevie.

 

[padr81]

ha ha!
So he called Pep and asked if City will sign him

Much easier to make a joke and try and be smart but man 20 seconds on google would answer it for you.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...for-move-what-the-papers-say-about-his-future
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...ep-Guardiola-sensational-Manchester-City.html

Its easier to be smug and sarcastic without a clue though

 

[Rasendori]

https://www.oddschecker.com/footbal...ionel-messi/club-after-summer-transfer-window

Messi to stay at Barca 9/10.
Messi to City 11/8
Messi to United 20/1

I put a small punt for Messi to stay via Skybet. My success rate with SkyBet is currently 10%. 85%+ with two other companies.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

I put a small punt for Messi to stay via Skybet. My success rate with SkyBet is currently 10%. 85%+ with two other companies.

Good luck with that

 

[RooneyLegend]

Inter Milan

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Much easier to make a joke and try and be smart but man 20 seconds on google would answer it for you.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...for-move-what-the-papers-say-about-his-future
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...ep-Guardiola-sensational-Manchester-City.html

Its easier to be smug and sarcastic without a clue though

I’m taking the piss out of the daily mail ffs, as if the best player in the World is making his own private phone calls to check if a team is interested in signing him

 

[Rasendori]

Good luck with that

I actually want him to leave, albeit not to City.