Lionel Messi \ Signs for PSG

[Steamboat Willy]

Am I the only one thinking, that this could be the best possible way to give back to the supporters all over the world.

Think about it. Barca’s in reel financial trouble. Messi made more money the past just 5 years than litterally thousands of households do in a lifetime.

He could ask Laporta to work for like one dollar from the club next season and do the same thing. Just as some of the buisnessmen who worked for the goverment in the US during WW2. The one-dollar-men.

He could support the club enormously in that way, and he would still make tons of cash from sponsorships an so on.

That would be giving something back to the supporters - “MES QUE EN CLUB”and walk the talk.

It is not like he didn’t want to stay at the club.

Just a thought.

But perhaps he needs the last 30m to cover his expenses.

 

[Red_Aaron]

I was talking with my family about that yesterday...

Surely if he wanted to stay, and loves the club that much, and doesn't want to leave, he could stay and play for next to nothing? He's got all the money he could want, so if he truly loved the club, money wouldn't be an issue?

He'll still be earning an absolute fortune from his external sponsors and business interests

Given the state of the club at the moment it would've been an extraordinary gesture (and yet incredibly easy to do) from the world's greatest player to put the clubs interest ahead of his own. Commit himself to steering them through these hard times no matter what and vowing to do all he can to bring the good times back

I think the reason for this is far more sporting than he'd have you believe

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Still wouldn't be able to register him.... and there's a good chance 150-200k wouldn't actually cover his initial outlay for the stream of staff he'd clearly have himself. Forget the rest, it's not like 500k goes in his pocket.

There’s “first world problems” and then there’s taking that to a whole different planet.

“How on Earth will I pay my 150k a week of private staff with this measly salary”

 

[WhoAreYou?]

How is Depay and Aguero playing for them then?

They are playing friendlies. The new signings (still) havent been registered for La Liga.

 

[mitChley]

How is Depay and Aguero playing for them then?

The aren't, can't register them as it stands.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Spoiler

 

[mitChley]

Messi blaming La Liga for him leaving.

Did La Liga make Barcelona to spend 160m on Coutinho, 150m on Dembele and 120m on Griezmann? Did La Liga make them pay Griezmann 880k a week? De Jong 400k a week? Martin fecking Braithwraite 85k a week?

Get fecked Lionel and Barcelona, go cry your crocodile years elsewhere.

 

[Devil81]

He'll still be earning an absolute fortune from his external sponsors and business interests

Given the state of the club at the moment it would've been an extraordinary gesture (and yet incredibly easy to do) from the world's greatest player to put the clubs interest ahead of his own. Commit himself to steering them through these hard times no matter what and vowing to do all he can to bring the good times back

I think the reason for this is far more sporting than he'd have you believe

Yeah, 100% this he's going for trophies and a shot at the Champions league again.

Who's going to stop that PSG side now.

All they need is Mbappe to sign a new contract and it's almost a dream team.

 

[Godfather]

Such an unlikeable character

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

They will have to figure things out to registrer Depay or Aguero, they'd have found something for a free Messi.

it’s mental gymnastics again isn’t it? They will manage to pay Memphis a hefty salary considering came for free so of course they could’ve fixed something for Messi on a “simple” salary.

 

[adexkola]

Good post. The counter to this will always be the line "why should club X, Y and Z always be at the top, why can't a smaller club get investment and compete". The answer to this is that basically its not organic, you take a club with a small fan base and elevate them to the very top and its likely they will always need propping up. Say they are kept up there for 20 years through external money so they gain sufficient 'new fans' to then compete on their own, is that really sporting achievement or integrity? Isn't that just getting a number 1 single by buying 1m copies yourself and calling yourself an artist?

Success shouldn't be dependent on how many fans you have.

If you bring through youth, are very prudent with transfers, you deserve a shot at glory without being asset stripped by big clubs.

Here in the states, big teams like the Knicks and Cowboys have not been able to win for decades because of stupid management, while small teams win all the time. I get the different dynamics of the sports and markets and what not but that is what sport should be about. It shouldn't be about traditional big clubs having a virtual oligopoly. It shouldn't be about oil clubs buying their way to the top. My issue is that many fans close their eye to one issue (because they benefit from it) while attacking the other. If both can't fall let both stand then, is my stance

 

[Judas]

Not sure why he's pretending its not a done dealio for him to go straight to PSG to get obscene money. At least be honest.

I still think the blokes greed is the key to him having to leave, I get it, he's Messi, but still. Well that and Barca being run absolutely dreadfully.

 

[JPRouve]

Actually quite nice in a weird way to finally see some human emotion from him, crying and that. Always comes across as such a dull fella.

Makes it even more tragic he's swapping a club he clearly cares about to go to PSG.

He didn't care about Barcelona before joining them. I always find this angle strange, it makes no sense because players leave clubs that they care about all the time and care about new clubs too.

 

[Devil81]

There’s “first world problems” and then there’s taking that to a whole different planet.

“How on Earth will I pay my 150k a week of private staff with this measly salary”

Where has this 150k a week for staff come from, not a chance he's paying that out weekly.

 

[Lay]

How is Depay and Aguero playing for them then?

They aren't. Laporta said he 'thinks' they will be able to register them. Currently all of their signings will be unregistered.

 

[ha_rooney]

Can’t help but laugh at this whole situation. Barcelona deserve it for the horrible management of their finances, despite having all the benefits in that league in their favour (same as Madrid). And Messi, so desperate to leave last year to this where he’s in tears yet also has his move to PSG lined up in an instant. I’m sure he’ll be fine when he’s getting that oil money.

 

[adexkola]

Imagine the message that he would have sent out if he finished on a nominal contract that ultimately saved his club of 21 years after all they had forked out on him.

The message it sends out is that players can be cajoled into taking below market deals in order to save clubs from idiotic business decisions they make.

Doing so would be unfair to the rest of La Liga clubs that were more prudent with their spending and would profit from Barcelona having a few lean years. It would be unfair to other players who could be put under the same pressure from club and fans due to the precedent being set.

I'm not sure why Barcelona is so important that Messi needs to stay there on a severe discount. Anyway, I'm glad they are cutting ties.

 

[Judas]

He didn't care about Barcelona before joining them. I always find this angle strange, it makes no sense because players leave clubs that they care about all the time and care about new clubs too.

Weird angle from you really. Majority of players don't have an attachment to a club until they play for them, thats not news is it. You can't pretend he'll ever feel anything close to PSG as he does Barca. He'll be there a couple of years and go to the MLS. It just feels flat and empty to me.

 

[Cloud7]

Success shouldn't be dependent on how many fans you have.

If you bring through youth, are very prudent with transfers, you deserve a shot at glory without being asset stripped by big clubs.

Here in the states, big teams like the Knicks and Cowboys have not been able to win for decades because of stupid management, while small teams win all the time. I get the different dynamics of the sports and markets and what not but that is what sport should be about. It shouldn't be about traditional big clubs having a virtual oligopoly. It shouldn't be about oil clubs buying their way to the top. My issue is that many fans close their eye to one issue (because they benefit from it) while attacking the other. If both can't fall let both stand then, is my stance

100%

And the defense is always "WeLl ThE bIg ClUbS eArNeD iT"

 

[JPRouve]

Success shouldn't be dependent on how many fans you have.

If you bring through youth, are very prudent with transfers, you deserve a shot at glory without being asset stripped by big clubs.

Here in the states, big teams like the Knicks and Cowboys have not been able to win for decades because of stupid management, while small teams win all the time. I get the different dynamics of the sports and markets and what not but that is what sport should be about. It shouldn't be about traditional big clubs having a virtual oligopoly. It shouldn't be about oil clubs buying their way to the top. My issue is that many fans close their eye to one issue (because they benefit from it) while attacking the other. If both can't fall let both stand then, is my stance

Also it's important to remember that PSG is an actual football club, that develops and has developed young players for a long time. Yes, they have been bought by QIA recently but it doesn't erase the fact that it's a football club with an history.

 

[Pep's Suit]

He's hilarious. If 20M was enough for him he could have stayed but no he has to earn 3-4 times as much. OK, thats fine buuuut he's like Jordan or Federer. Even a 55 years old Messi will be making tens of millions from sponsorship deals.

 

[Cloud7]

Imagine the message that he would have sent out if he finished on a nominal contract that ultimately saved his club of 21 years after all they had forked out on him.

The message it would send is that players should feel an emotional and moral obligation to absorb the cost of their employers making bad business decisions, which is a horrible route to go down.

 

[Renegade]

What’s the fan feeling with Greizmann? Would him leaving enabled Barca to resign Messi?

 

[Zen86]

So many tears for someone who wanted to force his way out for free last season. All those threats of legal action were because he cares so much for Barca

 

[Adam-Utd]

for the “play for free gang”

 

[JPRouve]

Weird angle from you really. Majority of players don't have an attachment to a club until they play for them, thats not news is it. You can't pretend he'll ever feel anything close to PSG as he does Barca. He'll be there a couple of years and go to the MLS. It just feels flat and empty to me.

How is my angle weird, you are the one who brought love into it. Messi doesn't have to love PSG as much as he loves Barcelona, the same way he never had to love Barcelona as much as Newell's Old Boy. By your logic you should feel flat and empty for almost all players.

 

[Renegade]

He's hilarious. If 20M was enough for him he could have stayed but no he has to earn 3-4 times as much. OK, thats fine buuuut he's like Jordan or Federer. Even a 55 years old Messi will be making tens of millions from sponsorship deals.

Why shouldn’t he be paid his worth? While Umtiti,Dembele,Coutinho and all the other players that don’t contribute get over paid?

 

[Adam-Utd]

So many tears for someone who wanted to force his way out for free last season. All those threats of legal action were because he cares so much for Barca

anybody with half a brain new it was a power play to force the president out that everybody hated. it was essentially “president or me”

 

[Judas]

So many tears for someone who wanted to force his way out for free last season. All those threats of legal action were because he cares so much for Barc

He even said it in the press conference he wanted out last season, so yeah quite silly in many ways all this.

 

[adexkola]

Also it's important to remember that PSG is an actual football club, that develops and has developed young players for a long time. Yes, they have been bought by QIA recently but it doesn't erase the fact that it's a football club with an history.

Every football club has history!

What they mean is history of winning trophies... Ok what the feck does that have to do with today

 

[JPRouve]

So many tears for someone who wanted to force his way out for free last season. All those threats of legal action were because he cares so much for Barca

Keep in mind that one of the reason he wanted to leave was that Bartomeu and his gang were continuously feeding the press to damage the image of their own players including Messi. He rightfully had a big issue with the board.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

for the “play for free gang”

that would be absolutely fine if they don’t manage to sign Depay or Aguero but do you honestly think that’s going to happen @Adam-Utd ? Is it feck.

 

[FrankDrebin]

It was only till yesterday that I completely forgot about last years circus.

 

[Skills]

that would be absolutely fine if they don’t manage to sign Depay or Aguero but do you honestly think that’s going to happen @Adam-Utd ? Is it feck.

I bet they'll both end up out on loan for the season

 

[JPRouve]

Every football club has history!

What they mean is history of winning trophies... Ok what the feck does that have to do with today

As you said it's more about maintaining a football aristocracy.

 

[Adam-Utd]

that would be absolutely fine if they don’t manage to sign Depay or Aguero but do you honestly think that’s going to happen @Adam-Utd ? Is it feck.

they can’t register them either as it stands! they need to sell players like coutinho and griezmann.

essentially they’ve planned this so badly, they thought the super league would happen so basically ignored the salary cap. now they’ve realised they actually have to honor it, they can’t what a mess

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I bet they'll both end up out on loan for the season

We’ll see, I’m certain Depay will sign and be registered.

 

[fergies coat]

Don't get all the tears from him, surely if he loved the club that much he could take a pay cut to say £200,000 per week. Its still a massive amount of money. He's already set for life anyway. It's just pure greed.

 

[Reditus]

Still amazes me we're not in for him. We'd get the money back from his salary from shirt sales alone.

I realise you are not being serious, but I’d like to know how much revenue a name like messi can bring in. It has to be significant. They can probably renegotiate all their sponsorship deals now

 

[Adam McNeill]

If I was Messi...

I have more money than I can ever spend and my family is financially covered for MANY generations.

Why not PAY Barcelona back some cash to play (think of it as a loan back to the club), help them get out of a crap hole they are in, or at least play for free/nominal ammount!!!!

Not that he is ever going to be forgotten by Barca fans anyway but he would cement himself in the history books forever.

But no.... he puts on some tears to pull on everyone's heartstrings to hide his greed for money.

Sorry mate not mine, you greedy little cretin!