Lionel Messi

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Daysleeper

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[Olé] Lionel Messi has decided to stay at Barcelona. And soon he will communicate the decision through a recorded message on his social media.

Although he is still angry, the meeting that Jorge Messi had a couple of days ago with Josep Bartomeu, president of the club, made Messi rethink the idea.

That his love story for Barca ended up tainted by a lawsuit with the club was not the wish of Leo, who in principle will hope to fulfill his contract, which expires in June 2021.

https://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-internacional/espana/lionel-messi-queda-barcelona_0_iWC4lu9zx.html
 

romufc

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you are wrong, Messi does not want to leave for free. City don’t want to pay 700M. Messi’s camp has constantly said they want an amicable split. Yes, he makes big wages but to say he is doing all this because he’s “money driven” is just blatantly wrong. He specifically wants to link up with Pep. He wants ucl above all. The clause in his contract supposedly says he can leave for free hence why it gets brought up. He wants Barca to let him go but they won’t budge from 700M. Messi isn’t leaving for money or anything close to it, he’s leaving because the sporting project at Barca has failed. He wants to win ucl and time is running out
So was Messi held to a gun point when he signed a contract with 700M release clause? If he wants an amicable split, it should be City trying to negotiate a transfer for Messi not him.

E.g. Sancho wants an amicable departure but if no one brings the money, Dortmund wont sell, more so if no one even enters negotiation, they wont sell.

So City are the only club that have a sporting project? a club that has never got to the final?

Its not like Barca don't want to win things, they spend £180m last summer for Griezman and De Jong. They sacked the manager after the CL, showing that they do have a sporting project.

Like every player / club in the world, if you have signed a contract with 700m release clause, you have to know that leaving will not be easy.

More specifically, if he knew there was a clause, why didn't him or his lawyers get the clause clarified in June ? which is when it expired as per what Barca have said. Bottom line is none of us actually know about that clause and the details.

Like most players and clubs, they got their contracts and clauses clarified in June, players got extension till August.
 

Rojofiam

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I thought he'd at least force Bartomeu out of the club, but this is the best outcome for me: he won't play for City and Barcelona probably keeps imploding for at least another year until the elections.
 

Paolo Di Canio

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I thought he'd at least force Bartomeu out of the club, but this is the best outcome for me: he won't play for City and Barcelona probably keeps imploding for at least another year until the elections.
Or he leaves on a free next year
 

cyberman

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Oh come on! Where is the court case? People demand entertainment, give them that dammit!
There is none because Barca actually understand the clauses they have in. Armchair lawyers around the world are up in arms about a contract they have never seen.
This is humiliating.
 

Daysleeper

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So was Messi held to a gun point when he signed a contract with 700M release clause? If he wants an amicable split, it should be City trying to negotiate a transfer for Messi not him.

E.g. Sancho wants an amicable departure but if no one brings the money, Dortmund wont sell, more so if no one even enters negotiation, they wont sell.

So City are the only club that have a sporting project? a club that has never got to the final?

Its not like Barca don't want to win things, they spend £180m last summer for Griezman and De Jong. They sacked the manager after the CL, showing that they do have a sporting project.

Like every player / club in the world, if you have signed a contract with 700m release clause, you have to know that leaving will not be easy.

More specifically, if he knew there was a clause, why didn't him or his lawyers get the clause clarified in June ? which is when it expired as per what Barca have said. Bottom line is none of us actually know about that clause and the details.

Like most players and clubs, they got their contracts and clauses clarified in June, players got extension till August.
The clause was in the spirit of the season ending which is what Messi was arguing. The fact that as early as 2017 was when Messi had this clause put in speaks volumes about a way out because no club can pay 700M. City with Messi look much better for UCL chances than Messi with Barca. It is absolutely for sporting reasons he wants to leave. Barca would double his wages if they could because he is rightfully a god there. Money is not the driving motivation to leave. Barca want 700M, Messi's lawyers argue that the clause isn't valid but a court case is very risky for both sides. Barca are arguing the clause needed a June 10 deadline, but Messi isn't going to just lave in the middle of a season and UCL campaign. That would've been suicide for the team and create unecessary drama during the season with the team in enough turmoil as it was.
 

Mb194dc

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Statement going to be interesting that is for sure.

Can't imagine why he'd want to stay if his lawyers are telling him the release clause is valid but Barcelona are reneging on the deal.

All I can think is that if he is staying it will be alongside Bale on the golf course, not at the nou camp... :lol: #freemessi
 

The Man Himself

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There is none because Barca actually understand the clauses they have in. Armchair lawyers around the world are up in arms about a contract they have never seen.
This is humiliating.
Ya but wouldn't that have made it all the more funnier for Messi to go to court against Barca, with support of City and losing the case. Anyway, let's see what the statement is, if there are more twists.
 

Pep's Suit

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When he didn't make a public statement that he wants to leave it was always moving only in one direction. Guess he'll eventually sign 2-year extension there.
 

romufc

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The clause was in the spirit of the season ending which is what Messi was arguing. The fact that as early as 2017 was when Messi had this clause put in speaks volumes about a way out because no club can pay 700M. City with Messi look much better for UCL chances than Messi with Barca. It is absolutely for sporting reasons he wants to leave. Barca would double his wages if they could because he is rightfully a god there. Money is not the driving motivation to leave. Barca want 700M, Messi's lawyers argue that the clause isn't valid but a court case is very risky for both sides. Barca are arguing the clause needed a June 10 deadline, but Messi isn't going to just lave in the middle of a season and UCL campaign. That would've been suicide for the team and create unecessary drama during the season with the team in enough turmoil as it was.
Anyway the decision is that he stays. He has one year left and if Man City came in and put a bid of £150-200m which is what he is actually worth, Barca would be willing to negotiate (I think).

The fact that City have never contacted Barca and only had conversations with Messi shows they dont want to pay the money.

If Messi wasn't driven my money, he would be happy to take less pay so City can afford him so he can be part of a better sporting challenge like you say.
 

Fortitude

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It's about having a change and trying to have a fresh title at the big honours after having tried to carry your current team to no avail (other than La Ligas). I don't think footballers as driven and brilliant as Messi and Ronaldo move for such reasons. It's a nice add on but nearly enough.
Earning a billion in your twilight years has to be seen as more than a nice add on, I think! But yeah, as it is intertwined with the chance to contest for everything from the outset, it could never be determined the driving force of a move.

I actually think Messi will see out his European career at Barca if he doesn't leave this window. A season is a long time and a lot of things can change within it. He's the emotional sort and he's turned in on himself before and had a period of reflection. Once that board and Koeman are gone, there's likely to be a full reset there, especially with his old mates then flooding back into the club.
 

Adisa

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He has given Barca his vest years and 700 goals.
Barca have the right to say he can't leave for free but they have the moral obligation to negotiate.
Imagine of towards the end of his career, we forced Giggs to stay?
 

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What a farcical drama. Barca look chaotic but Messi hasn't covered himself in glory either. I can understand his frustration and will to leave but surely he could've handled it better. A 33 year old Ronaldo was sold for 100 million euros. Why would Messi want to deny the same (or similar) to Barca?
 

Daysleeper

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Anyway the decision is that he stays. He has one year left and if Man City came in and put a bid of £150-200m which is what he is actually worth, Barca would be willing to negotiate (I think).

The fact that City have never contacted Barca and only had conversations with Messi shows they dont want to pay the money.

If Messi wasn't driven my money, he would be happy to take less pay so City can afford him so he can be part of a better sporting challenge like you say.
City can't put in a bid until Barca budge from the 700M release clause. City have supposedly offered Messi an insane argument. Not sure why you'r choosing to die on this hill of it all being mony driven. The release clause is the issue. Barca board doesn't want to be remembered as the board that sold Messi. They had literally shut down their phones to avoid any calls from anyone about a deal. The release clause is the issue, not Messi's wages.
 

Nickelodeon

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He has given Barca his vest years and 700 goals.
Barca have the right to say he can't leave for free but they have the moral obligation to negotiate.
Imagine of towards the end of his career, we forced Giggs to stay?
And Barca has paid him a fortune (90 odd million a year pre-tax). It's not like he was doing it out of the goodness of his heart. Him wanting to leave the club is not a betrayal. Announcement through burofax and the effort to leave for free was quite distasteful though.
 

Daysleeper

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What a farcical drama. Barca look chaotic but Messi hasn't covered himself in glory either. I can understand his frustration and will to leave but surely he could've handled it better. A 33 year old Ronaldo was sold for 100 million euros. Why would Messi want to deny the same (or similar) to Barca?
Why do people keep spouting such nonesense? It was not upto messi how much he gets sold for. Madrid were willing to sell ronaldo below his rlease clause because they didn't feel he was worth his wage demands so he went to Juventus. If Madrid held firm on Ronaldo's release clause, Ronaldo would have been helpless to leave. Barca refuse to budge from the 700M release clause and a court case is too risky for City to get involved in.
 

monosierra

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What a farcical drama. Barca look chaotic but Messi hasn't covered himself in glory either. I can understand his frustration and will to leave but surely he could've handled it better. A 33 year old Ronaldo was sold for 100 million euros. Why would Messi want to deny the same (or similar) to Barca?
Ultimately its a lose-lose. He should have made it clear that he loves the club but that the board has betrayed his trust and that he is on the side of fans. That means he would only entrust a new board with his transfer fee. But since the board will not and cannot resign, that scenario was never going to happen and it would always have come down to a blinking contest.
 

Daysleeper

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And Barca has paid him a fortune (90 odd million a year pre-tax). It's not like he was doing it out of the goodness of his heart. Him wanting to leave the club is not a betrayal. Announcement through burofax and the effort to leave for free was quite distasteful though.
He legally has to use the burofax to terminate the contract. The board refused to acknowledge that his contract was no longer valid. He NEVER wanted to leave for free, he wanted Barca to negotiate with City for a transfer fee less than the 700M. City don't want a lawsuit, and Barca refuse to sell for less than 700M.
 

romufc

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City can't put in a bid until Barca budge from the 700M release clause. City have supposedly offered Messi an insane argument. Not sure why you'r choosing to die on this hill of it all being mony driven. The release clause is the issue. Barca board doesn't want to be remembered as the board that sold Messi. They had literally shut down their phones to avoid any calls from anyone about a deal. The release clause is the issue, not Messi's wages.
I am past the money, Messi deserves every penny he gets, he is the best ever.

So Barca would rather let Messi go for free next summer than get £150m for him this? especially after he has said he wants to leave.

We don't really know about the calls or anything because it is never black and white. Loads of clubs have said no player wont leave under x amount and they end up leaving.

The fact is City have never tried to put a fee in for Messi.
 

Zehner

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What a farcical drama. Barca look chaotic but Messi hasn't covered himself in glory either. I can understand his frustration and will to leave but surely he could've handled it better. A 33 year old Ronaldo was sold for 100 million euros. Why would Messi want to deny the same (or similar) to Barca?
Apparently, he's of the opinion that he could leave for free but he doesn't want to sue 'his' club so he stys instead. Isn't that what you're asking him to do?
 

Nickelodeon

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Why do people keep spouting such nonesense? It was not upto messi how much he gets sold for. Madrid were willing to sell ronaldo below his rlease clause because they didn't feel he was worth his wage demands so he went to Juventus. If Madrid held firm on Ronaldo's release clause, Ronaldo would have been helpless to leave. Barca refuse to budge from the 700M release clause and a court case is too risky for City to get involved in.
Calm down. There's no one correct opinion here. Respect an alternate one even if you disagree.

Coming to the point of loyalty, if Messi had stated that he's done all he can and he wants to leave and would want the club to facilitate the exit, then fine. He could've made a statement on the same and the burofax would've been an administrative requirement. From what I've read at least, Messi has tried to force an exit by insinuating that he's legally allowed to leave on a free when the legality of it is quite sketchy.

Given that he's a legend and deserves some loyalty for his service, he could've negotiated a fairer transfer fee which gives Barca some fee to replace him adequately while not having a 700 million figure attached to him. But when he went for 0, the board went for the 700. No one covered themselves in glory here.

If Madrid held firm on Ronaldo's release clause, Ronaldo would have been helpless to leave. Barca refuse to budge from the 700M release clause and a court case is too risky for City to get involved in.
Because his exit was negotiated in a timely and mutually beneficial manner where both player and club were aligned. It seems that Messi and his representatives haven't even tried that and the club had no option but to uphold the release clause. Messi leaving is a disgrace enough for them, let alone Messi leaving on a free.

Again, there are no winners in this scenario.
 

EwanI Ted

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Think I'm in a minority here, but I think its a shame that the relationship looks to have broken down, with Messi & Barca being stuck in a loveless marriage for one more year. We are talking about one of the all time greats, maybe the greatest ever. It would be a shame if his career had a crappy negative end to it.
 

Nickelodeon

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Ultimately its a lose-lose. He should have made it clear that he loves the club but that the board has betrayed his trust and that he is on the side of fans. That means he would only entrust a new board with his transfer fee. But since the board will not and cannot resign, that scenario was never going to happen and it would always have come down to a blinking contest.
Completely agree.
 

Mb194dc

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Where is the statement....?

Come on, like a story without the ending!
 
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