Lionel Messi

[Adisa]

Very few will even talk about David Silva to be honest.

And very few will talk about City being an oil club. If he's successful and wins them the CL, they will talk about it as adding to his legacy. If he's not successful, he will be remembered as purely a Barca player.
Yes one of two will mention the Sheik but its going to even register when people discuss his place in the pantheon of greats.

 

[Buchan]

Didn’t Guardiola and Messi have a spat towards the end of Guardiola’s time there? Would Messi be that keen to work with him again?

 

[Idxomer]

And very few will talk about City being an oil club. If he's successful and wins them the CL, they will talk about it as adding to his legacy. If he's not successful, he will be remembered as purely a Barca player.
Yes one of two will mention the Sheik but its going to even register when people discuss his place in the pantheon of greats.

In this microanalysis age, him no being successful at City will make a big talking point among football fans.

 

[Pep's Suit]

Seeing Manchester City fans posting pictures of Messi in their shirt is so disrespectful if you ask me.

As exciting as it is bringing him to England I feel this could really tarnish the end of his career for people who look up to him.

Guardiola also left the club he loved only to eventually end up down the line as a lapdog for a corrupt Arab dictator who desperately wants his City brand to bask in the reflected glory of peak Barcelona.

It will be a sad if that same thing happens to Messi. He’s just a tool for a dark force in the game then.

This is pathetic.

 

[Gee Male]

And very few will talk about City being an oil club. If he's successful and wins them the CL, they will talk about it as adding to his legacy. If he's not successful, he will be remembered as purely a Barca player.
Yes one of two will mention the Sheik but its going to even register when people discuss his place in the pantheon of greats.

Very few talk about City in any other context than being an oil club. I'm not sure what planet you're living on, that is literally all they are, the sum total.

 

[pratyush_utd]

Messi isn’t fighting to leave for free though, if anything he’s trying to get city to pay us a fair fee. Barto is the one who is the idiot for trying to drag this out. Messi just had a record breaking season, without his 25
Goals and 20+ assists (tying an all time top 5 league record) is him doing more than any other player has done for his squad the past season outside of maybe Lewandowski. The difference is even in an 8-2 debacle, Lewa just scoring once is fine as his teammates can score the other 6-7 goals. Messi doesn’t have that luxury. The board has failed him time and time again. There’s a reason no one in Barcelona is upset at Messi. Why Puyol who bleeds for the club is applauding Messi. Think about how bad things must be for it to come to
This. This toxic board is on the verge of being ousted but the damage has been done.

As for Ronaldo, he’s a mercenary, left Madrid because he felt he wasn’t getting the wages he deserved. Wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves Juventus within a year or two. Why? Because like Messi these two players are desperate for another CL. Both teams have woeful
Management (us more so than Juventus) and neither player wants to waste time with a rebuild project if they only have 2-3 years of being top 5 players. So bashing Messi during this is strange. He’s simply trying to get this over with, he’s trying to get city to pay a fee For his transfer to Barca which the court maybe even decide isn’t necessary. Barto is the one making this painful moment a million time’s worse. He needs to go ASAP

Messi negotiated a contract every year because of his love for Barca but Ronaldo is mercenary for doing the same.

If Messi leaves your club at the time when it needs it most, then that makes him the mercenary considering he is going to Oil club and not a proper club like Juventus. Ronaldo atleast had the decency to leave the club at its high, not when his team got steam rolled in Champions league.

 

[pratyush_utd]

And very few will talk about City being an oil club. If he's successful and wins them the CL, they will talk about it as adding to his legacy. If he's not successful, he will be remembered as purely a Barca player.
Yes one of two will mention the Sheik but its going to even register when people discuss his place in the pantheon of greats.

The very fact that they are able to sign Messi on insane wage will make the point of them being the Oil club much more than it is now. It is why Qatar Fc gets mentioned everytime PSG plays because of Neymar insane deal which quite frankly no club other than oil club would have done

 

[clarkydaz]

Didn’t Guardiola and Messi have a spat towards the end of Guardiola’s time there? Would Messi be that keen to work with him again?

Clearly wasnt that bad was it? Or maybe he remembers it today and calls it all off

 

[AJ Bullet]

Didn’t Guardiola and Messi have a spat towards the end of Guardiola’s time there? Would Messi be that keen to work with him again?

Time heals all wounds...................so does money.

 

[WPMUFC]

Barcelona board have given the order, that all the executives and managers in charge, not to respond to the call of any team interested in Messi. The phone will not be answered nor will any proposal other than the payment of the termination clause be heard.

And...here....we....go!!!

Court case looks inevitable now.

 

[pratyush_utd]

And...here....we....go!!!

Court case looks inevitable now.

Atleast we have some entertainment this summer.

 

[red4ever 79]

And...here....we....go!!!

Court case looks inevitable now.

Good start for Koeman all this> Every press conference and everything he will do will be outshone by this saga. Mind you I dont have much time for Koeman, fecked Everton over royally

 

[cyberman]

Barca are done after this. Arsenal on steroids

 

[Lyricist]

I haven't really followed this 100%, but my first thought has been from the start:
Messi has identified himself with Barca for over 10 years, surely he would feel some kind of connection and or responsibility.
Is it not a bit spineless to just abandon his team by sending a fax right after their heaviest European defeat, in a situation where he knows that they aren't prepared for him leaving, partly because he's supposedly losing his privileges? Shouldn't he be more like Pique where he actually cares for the fans and the identity of the club and thus wants to offer whatever it takes in order to help Barca get back up. I mean obviously if he wants to go, he has every right to after so many years. But knowing that Barca are in a really bad spot right now, he even wants to move on a free without Barca getting any money of his sale whatsoever. That's not the behavior of a leader.

 

[red woppit]

Think he will stay at Barca, once they start signing a few players.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

No one, apart from the old school care about this in the current football climate.

You think the new generation of aspiring tik-tok stars give a feck about the history of the club? Most kids will support whoever is best - outside of internal/external influences. Footballers will care even less so. The world class ones will want to add trophies to their CV. For that you'd go to Liverpool or Man City at the moment. What will going to United or Arsenal bring?

If City sign Messi - their domestic and international fan base will explode to the stratosphere. If they want to transition Manchester to blue - signing this fella will inch them one bit closer.

Haha! A defeatist Arsenal fan with their finger on the tiktok pulse. Nice to hear you can speak for "everyone". The fact City still struggle to fill their ground after 12 years of being UAE FC speaks volumes. Any City titles have a big asterix on them for anyone who knows football. A 33 year old Messi won't change that.

Why do you care what a few idiots on tiktok think?

 

[Daysleeper]

Messi negotiated a contract every year because of his love for Barca but Ronaldo is mercenary for doing the same.

If Messi leaves your club at the time when it needs it most, then that makes him the mercenary considering he is going to Oil club and not a proper club like Juventus. Ronaldo atleast had the decency to leave the club at its high, not when his team got steam rolled in Champions league.

Horrible take. Ronaldo was getting crap from Ramos for hinting at his departure and taking a bit away from their 2018 CL win as Ramos felt Ronaldo should have waited to let out the news that he was leaving. Ronaldo just bailed right after. Messi stuck through all the humiliations and finally had a breaking point. But go ahead, keep reaching.

 

[pocco]

I haven't really followed this 100%, but my first thought has been from the start:
Messi has identified himself with Barca for over 10 years, surely he would feel some kind of connection and or responsibility.
Is it not a bit spineless to just abandon his team by sending a fax right after their heaviest European defeat, in a situation where he knows that they aren't prepared for him leaving, partly because he's supposedly losing his privileges? Shouldn't he be more like Pique where he actually cares for the fans and the identity of the club and thus wants to offer whatever it takes in order to help Barca get back up. I mean obviously if he wants to go, he has every right to after so many years. But knowing that Barca are in a really bad spot right now, he even wants to move on a free without Barca getting any money of his sale whatsoever. That's not the behavior of a leader.

He's always struck me as a little self entitled rat.

 

[Daysleeper]

I haven't really followed this 100%, but my first thought has been from the start:
Messi has identified himself with Barca for over 10 years, surely he would feel some kind of connection and or responsibility.
Is it not a bit spineless to just abandon his team by sending a fax right after their heaviest European defeat, in a situation where he knows that they aren't prepared for him leaving, partly because he's supposedly losing his privileges? Shouldn't he be more like Pique where he actually cares for the fans and the identity of the club and thus wants to offer whatever it takes in order to help Barca get back up. I mean obviously if he wants to go, he has every right to after so many years. But knowing that Barca are in a really bad spot right now, he even wants to move on a free without Barca getting any money of his sale whatsoever. That's not the behavior of a leader.

Messi stuck through humiliation after humiliation. Honestly, the issue isn’t Messi, it’s the board itself. They’re extremely toxic. They hired a social media team to tarnish THEIR OWN players, and right now they’re acting like children. There’s a reason hardly any fans in Barcelona are mad at messi for this. Because this board is one of the worst in the history of sports. I just want us to focus on rebuilding and put this behind us.

And he doesn’t want to leave on a free at all, if he did, he wouldn’t need to ask Barca to negotiate with city. He wants Barca to get paid for part of his transfer fee. They are just refusing to negotiate his exit.

 

[Daysleeper]

And very few will talk about City being an oil club. If he's successful and wins them the CL, they will talk about it as adding to his legacy. If he's not successful, he will be remembered as purely a Barca player.
Yes one of two will mention the Sheik but its going to even register when people discuss his place in the pantheon of greats.

Exactly. People are delusional thinking city would have an asterisk title or whatever mental gymnastics they need to tell themselves. Oil money is starting to become a necessary evil in football. There’s a reason why even Newcastle fans wanted oil money considering their current ownership woes

 

[Pep's Suit]

And...here....we....go!!!

Court case looks inevitable now.

MD usually write what Barca tells them, no? Sounds like another step in their propaganda.

 

[murali_red]

Barca would be happy with 100 or 150M. The reason both sides are weary to go to court is that if Messi wins, he walks for free, if Barto wins, then retroactively (as in the meantime the free transfer to city would be allowed to go through until a court ruling) city would have to pay the full 700 million release clause.

I don't think any Court can over rule what is on a contract, if there is a specific date, then there is no discretion.

 

[Pep's Suit]

According to Marcelo Bechler right now, Messi sent to Barcelona an official statement that he is no longer a player of the club.

 

[AJ Bullet]

Well if he's off to City so be it, at least someones trying to stop Liverpool walking the league again, nobody else seems bothered.

 

[TheNewEra]

According to Marcelo Bechler right now, Messi sent to Barcelona an official statement that he is no longer a player of the club.

That would be up to the legal teams to resolve, if the contract says 'player must make it known before July 1st his intentions to leave on a free' versus 'at the end of the season' then there's probably no wiggle-room, where-as end of the season given Covid is probably an apt argument to make.

Specific dates would mean the club could have an agreement on 'good-will' because of the players service to the club, but Barca could just hold out an extra year.

Issue is, if Messi doesn't want to be there they shouldn't keep him, they should let him go because of what he has done for the club, their greatest ever player.

Shows how bad the board is.

I'd obviously rather him not be at City.

 

[TheNewEra]

Well if he's off to City so be it, at least someones trying to stop Liverpool walking the league again, nobody else seems bothered.

Chelsea have made 6 signings.

 

[WPMUFC]

According to Marcelo Bechler right now, Messi sent to Barcelona an official statement that he is no longer a player of the club.

Full chad would've said "i no longer play for Barca, I'm a Man City player", too weak, i'm glad we aint in for him

 

[Terminator]

So a 50 goal season coming up for Messi if he goes to City? How can opposing teams even mark him out of the games when they have KDB, Bernardo Silva, Sterling etc.., to defend against. Fecking nuts and it feel so unfair.

 

[AJ Bullet]

Chelsea have made 6 signings.

Fair point, might take them a little longer but showing signs at least.

 

[WPMUFC]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Messi understands that he is no longer a Barcelona player and has already communicated this to the club.

BOOM!!

 

[TheNewEra]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Messi understands that he is no longer a Barcelona player and has already communicated this to the club.

BOOM!!

Hope City aren't given a free run, Ed Woodward needs to show financial muscle and speak with Adidas, even if we know he will end up at City

 

[Fluctuation0161]

Exactly. People are delusional thinking city would have an asterisk title or whatever mental gymnastics they need to tell themselves. Oil money is starting to become a necessary evil in football. There’s a reason why even Newcastle fans wanted oil money considering their current ownership woes

You answered the Newcastle question yourself, they are desperate for anyone to replace their current ownership woes.

For me, clubs ran like City and PSG cheapen football. Buying titles and running clubs effectively as state franchises, intended for sportswashing their countries questionable image to generate positive PR is tacky and cynical. The less people fall for this trick the better.

The real mental gymnastics are performed by people who deny this fact imo. It's like Pep wearing his ribbon while being employed by some of the biggest human rights abusers in the Middle East, massive hypocrisy.

 

[Hulksmash]

Think he will stay at Barca, once they start signing a few players.

They can't sign players financially. They have a 600-700 Million Wage bill and are expecting a loss about 300Million€ this season due to Covid-19.

 

[GhastlyHun]

It's really happening, isn't it.

 

[LilyWhiteSpur]

Didn’t Guardiola and Messi have a spat towards the end of Guardiola’s time there? Would Messi be that keen to work with him again?

Id say when you on the level Messi is your going to have spats with the manager, actuially I would say most top tier players would have dissagreements

 

[WPMUFC]

It's really happening, isn't it.

it's going to court, without a shadow of a doubt now. This is going to get REALLLY ugly.

 

[Schneckerl]

I haven't really followed this 100%, but my first thought has been from the start:
Messi has identified himself with Barca for over 10 years, surely he would feel some kind of connection and or responsibility.
Is it not a bit spineless to just abandon his team by sending a fax right after their heaviest European defeat, in a situation where he knows that they aren't prepared for him leaving, partly because he's supposedly losing his privileges? Shouldn't he be more like Pique where he actually cares for the fans and the identity of the club and thus wants to offer whatever it takes in order to help Barca get back up. I mean obviously if he wants to go, he has every right to after so many years. But knowing that Barca are in a really bad spot right now, he even wants to move on a free without Barca getting any money of his sale whatsoever. That's not the behavior of a leader.

Hard to say what was going on internally. I think it's more likely that they were already aware that Messi might leave and this isn't coming out of anywhere.

Right now there is silence from Messi, because of the possible court case and I'm sure we'll have more teammates speaking up too.

 

[GhastlyHun]

it's going to court, without a shadow of a doubt now. This is going to get REALLLY ugly.

After that video of Bartomeu basically confirming that Messi is acting in accordance with his contractual rights, i can hardly see Barca even getting this case admitted. They appear to have no leg to stand on.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I haven't really followed this 100%, but my first thought has been from the start:
Messi has identified himself with Barca for over 10 years, surely he would feel some kind of connection and or responsibility.
Is it not a bit spineless to just abandon his team by sending a fax right after their heaviest European defeat, in a situation where he knows that they aren't prepared for him leaving, partly because he's supposedly losing his privileges? Shouldn't he be more like Pique where he actually cares for the fans and the identity of the club and thus wants to offer whatever it takes in order to help Barca get back up. I mean obviously if he wants to go, he has every right to after so many years. But knowing that Barca are in a really bad spot right now, he even wants to move on a free without Barca getting any money of his sale whatsoever. That's not the behavior of a leader.

No.

 

[WPMUFC]

After that video of Bartomeu basically confirming that Messi is acting in accordance with his contractual rights, i can hardly see Barca even getting this case admitted. They appear to have no leg to stand on.

I don't think rational minds are in control right now. Plus when have facts and evidence really been the only factors in lawsuits? This is a huge media spectacle and neither side will want to give an inch.