The end of an era. After 17 seasons and 34 trophies (plus all the individual ones, among which the 6 Golden Balls stand out) Leo Messi leaves Barcelona. This time it is not a question of more or less reliable indiscretions, but of official news: in fact, it was the Blaugrana club itself who gave it, in a press release a few minutes ago. “Although an agreement has been reached between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, it cannot be formalized due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish LaLiga regulation) – reads the official website of Barça -. Given this situation, Lionel Messi will not continue to be linked to FC Barcelona. Both sides deeply regret that the wishes of both the player and the club cannot finally be fulfilled. Barça wholeheartedly thanks the player's contribution to the enhancement of the institution and wishes him the best in his personal and professional life."
A real twist, for a negotiation that seemed destined for white smoke and which instead, thanks to the above reasons, was sensationally shipwrecked. Of course, this is Barcelona's version, in which all the blame is placed on La Liga and the new post-Covid salary cap, which prevents clubs from exceeding a fixed spending threshold based on revenues and debts. Obviously, the new agreement that the Spanish league entered into with the CVC Capital Partners fund was of no use, which will bring about 3 billion euros to the movement in exchange for 10% of La Liga itself. Barça's debt situation remains too high to allow for Messi's new contract, yes willing to reduce the salary by 50%, but not to fall further from 25 million. However, someone hypothesizes that there is something else behind the breakup, also because Leo's stomach aches have been going on for a long time and not even Bartomeu's fall in favor of his beloved Laporta, however very welcome, has managed to heal them.
The Argentine would have liked to have more power in technical decisions, starting with the transfer campaign which instead saw him on the sidelines: the latest example in chronological order is Romero, who moved from Atalanta to Tottenham, whom Messi would have wanted as a teammate in blaugrana. In short, many circumstances have meant that the renewal of the contract, which expired in June, has remained only on paper, until the definitive break, albeit elegant and diplomatic. Now a new chapter opens, namely that of the market. Yes, because His Majesty Messi is free and will hardly remain so for much longer. The first thought, for obvious reasons, goes to Paris, where Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo are willing to make false papers to buy it, especially with Mbappé leaving. The Argentine would find his friend Neymar, whom he would have already wanted to bring back to Barcelona a year ago, as well as a super contract with which to end his European career, before moving to other more peripheral shores. However, also keep an eye on Guardiola's Manchester City, a coach who remained in Leo's heart after the splendid Blaugrana epic, perhaps the best ever.
Pep, who has just bought Grealish for 117 million, is courting Harry Kane for the modest sum of 190 million, but could decide to let it go and turn decisively on his protégé and attack that Champions League that has just escaped. In short, the two sheikhs seem to be the favorites, but it is clear that Messi is tempting for many, especially in England, where the purchasing power (see Abramovich or Manchester United) is decidedly high. In Italy, on the other hand, there is no one who can afford it, not even now that he is on a free transfer, because his mega salary, in these times of pandemic, is really too much. Finally, pay attention to the most sensational hypothesis, namely that of an incredible retreat from Barça: today's release had the only great objective of attacking Javier Tebas, plenipotentiary president of La Liga, and putting him in the pillory, popular and media. How will the Spanish football number one react to the prospect of losing his most important jewel? In Barcelona they hope that the answer will be a derogation from the Salary Cap, otherwise Leo's farewell will become a reality.
