Lionel Messi

Status
Not open for further replies.
"Mes que un club"

Such a shame that Barcelona is under the rule of sociopaths.

For me its quite evident that Bartomeu has pre planned all of this as they need to sell Messi.

Where else are they going to get the money to alleviate their mounting debts and restructure the team in the midst of a pandemic that does not appear to be ending anytime soon!

Very easy for them to do this, they know the type of character Messi is, and from reports in the Spanish media, seems like they are pressing all the right buttons to get Messi to instigate the separation.

Manipulation of the highest order, but those of you who know a thing or two about sociopaths and people in positions of power will all know this, the others can point to tin foil hats

:lol:
 
Berbasbullet said:
Messi makes sense for City, they play the sort of dominant football that suits him, I will lose a bit of respect for joining such a plastic nothing club.
Click to expand...
If he wins trophies, no one cares. He could be the final puzzle piece for many clubs to make a huge step forward, especially City
 
red thru&thru said:
If this was Fifa, I'd take him here. But how would the rest of the players react if he came? Look at the camp when Sanchez came.

Messi no doubt would score 20-30 goals and justify it but still, it would cause issues no doubt. But if it was something like Adidas funding the project, it might not seems as bad.

Also, how would he react to the English climate and culture etc? For a young guy it might be easier to acclimatise but a guy in his 30's, with a family, might find it harder.

So many factors to think about.
Click to expand...
It's Messi, how do you think they'd react other than be in awe.

Climate and culture? He'd see more rain, that's about it. I guess we have to wonder if he'd do it on a rainy, wet night at Stoke. :D
 
I think that he will stay at the end. He wants to get rid of president and maybe even put himself in the line for president or some other role in future.
If not, we should try everything to sign him. I am not hoping at all that that will happen but i would like at least that we try.
 
red thru&thru said:
If this was Fifa, I'd take him here. But how would the rest of the players react if he came? Look at the camp when Sanchez came.

Messi no doubt would score 20-30 goals and justify it but still, it would cause issues no doubt. But if it was something like Adidas funding the project, it might not seems as bad.

Also, how would he react to the English climate and culture etc? For a young guy it might be easier to acclimatise but a guy in his 30's, with a family, might find it harder.

So many factors to think about.
Click to expand...

That’s true, but Messi isn’t Sanchez. I would hope and think that the entire squad would be thrilled to have a player like Messi onboard, anything else would indicate a gross lack of ambition.
 
To be honest, I'd love Messi at Utd as a dream move (not considering its negative impacts). Its an impossible dream, not only because of the level we are at but also financially. It would also dramatically destabilise our rebuild. But I would rather have him with us than with City/Liverpool. But if he does not come to England, then I am not too fussed at missing out on him. The problem we have is that we are quite far behind City/Liverpool at the moment and a player like him going there would just be a knockout blow for a few years. BUT, if we get Sancho and a CB I feel we would be better suited to compete in 2-3 years time. This feels like a lose-lose for us. Get him in Utd and it might harm us massively in the long-term (short term it will be brilliant), see him go to City and we slip further back and city can start calling themselves the more "famous" club.
 
Krits said:
To be honest, I'd love Messi at Utd as a dream move (not considering its negative impacts). Its an impossible dream, not only because of the level we are at but also financially. It would also dramatically destabilise our rebuild. But I would rather have him with us than with City/Liverpool. But if he does not come to England, then I am not too fussed at missing out on him. The problem we have is that we are quite far behind City/Liverpool at the moment and a player like him going there would just be a knockout blow for a few years. BUT, if we get Sancho and a CB I feel we would be better suited to compete in 2-3 years time. This feels like a lose-lose for us. Get him in Utd and it might harm us massively in the long-term (short term it will be brilliant), see him go to City and we slip further back and city can start calling themselves the more "famous" club.
Click to expand...
They can start to call themselves whatever they want.
 
Difficult to see where he might go other than City. He wants to win the CL and will therefore presumably want to join a genuine contender. That's us and Chelsea out, even assuming either of us want him. Real Madrid there's too much baggage and Juve have Ronaldo who they're already struggling to afford. Bayern don't go in for that sort of transfer. Liverpool can't afford him. The only choices left are City and PSG. While PSG might be attractive in the sense that it would be an easier life playing in France, the link with Pep and co is bound to sway him.

The interesting question is whether City would go for him. One of the annoying things about City is that they have genuinely approached building their team in an effective way. Yes they've spent bucketloads, but they haven't gone down the galactico route that PSG have. Messi would be a pretty dramatic change in policy for them. A superstar who, despite being among the best in the world, is on the way down. They've had a system in mind and chosen players to fit the system, not the other way around. Messi won't be joining City to do lots of pressing from the front the way City like to do, and he isnt going to be happy playing out wide stretching the play. They'll have to accommodate their style of play and system to fit him in. Which is perhaps acceptable given the player we're talking about, but is definitely a big change.

Probably boils down to the transfer fee in the end. On a free transfer it might just be too temping to pass up. But for a big transfer fee, Im not sure they'd go for it.
 
red thru&thru said:
If this was Fifa, I'd take him here. But how would the rest of the players react if he came? Look at the camp when Sanchez came.

Messi no doubt would score 20-30 goals and justify it but still, it would cause issues no doubt. But if it was something like Adidas funding the project, it might not seems as bad.

Also, how would he react to the English climate and culture etc? For a young guy it might be easier to acclimatise but a guy in his 30's, with a family, might find it harder.

So many factors to think about.
Click to expand...
Not exactly. It is no brainer. He is still world class player, best in history and he can raise club's reputation to the sky (and bring better sponsor deals). Instead buying some player for 60-70 mil (plus wages and other fees) you bring Messi instead.
And regarding wage; it is Messi. He is not Sanchez ffs. I bet that Pogba, Rashford, DDG or any other player would be delighted to play with Messi and they would not care how much he is payed. Because you know....it is Messi
 
Krits said:
To be honest, I'd love Messi at Utd as a dream move (not considering its negative impacts). Its an impossible dream, not only because of the level we are at but also financially. It would also dramatically destabilise our rebuild. But I would rather have him with us than with City/Liverpool. But if he does not come to England, then I am not too fussed at missing out on him. The problem we have is that we are quite far behind City/Liverpool at the moment and a player like him going there would just be a knockout blow for a few years. BUT, if we get Sancho and a CB I feel we would be better suited to compete in 2-3 years time. This feels like a lose-lose for us. Get him in Utd and it might harm us massively in the long-term (short term it will be brilliant), see him go to City and we slip further back and city can start calling themselves the more "famous" club.
Click to expand...

Messi would be on a free transfer though, we're talking 60M a year on wages, over 3 years its 180M but a transfer fee on a player like Grealish + wages would be around the same fee overall.

It's actually financially viable to get Messi at 33 on a free transfer, it doesn't mean a player like Sancho is unattainable.

Being the CL actually mitigates the fee all-together and with a renewal of shirt sponsor due next year, having a player like Messi + Sancho means going to a sponsor like Haier means we get more sponsorship money because of the players we have too.

The point is, if Messi was available, give a better offer than City and secure Sancho, if City offer Messi 800K a week, offer him 1.2M a week, Sancho might be more likely to push for a transfer too at that point (to play with Messi).

Messi would be a far better runner of the ball than Grealish too (obviously) and he's still the best in the world in all areas, Barca have just been awful.

He could arguably play to 37 in a deeper role.

It's arguable that Messi + Sancho are doable in the same window, just as Grealish + Sancho would be.

Next summer get a CB, when Messi is 'done' get a replacement CAM.

Messi can easily be the tip of the diamond, with Rashford, Martial, Sancho doing the leg work pressing back allowing Messi to walk as he usually does.

United has such a young squad that Messi has runners for him to do the leg work.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
He's not going to move for the name, otherwise he'd stay at Barcelona.
Click to expand...
I'm not saying that. He'd maybe move for a new challenge, to play in a historic stadium for a famous club. We havent disappeared from the map despite we have been in trouble since Fergie left. I'm not saying it will happen, most probably it wont but we're not suddenly some midtable hasbeen.
 
CG1010 said:
When Ronaldo could move to Juventus at his age, why can't Messi move to another European team. City for example?
Click to expand...

Ronaldo has done it before and knows he can perform anywhere. I dont see Messi ever risking his comfort zone.
 
VeevaVee said:
Let’s be honest, it’s exactly what City want. It would boost their brand and worldwide appeal massively which they’ve desperately been trying to achieve. It’d also help them close the gap on Liverpool, which they need to do. It would also no doubt give Pep a reason to stay longer, who they need.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. It's just bang on for them. Although, it may stop them from addressing their defensive woes, so they could end up fecking it all up too.
 
Squeaky Bumtime said:
I'm not saying that. He'd maybe move for a new challenge, to play in a historic stadium for a famous club. We havent disappeared from the map despite we have been in trouble since Fergie left. I'm not saying it will happen, most probably it wont but we're not suddenly some midtable hasbeen.
Click to expand...

United aren't as far off as people believe either.

Martial, Rashford, Greenwood, Bruno, Pogba, Maguire, AWB, De Gea is a really good core, having Sancho and Messi would put it in one of the top few teams in Europe.

Waiting for a CB and CDM would push it into that area in the following summer.

City are great don't get me wrong, but they still need to replace Kompany, Aguero and they have a squad that's aging a little more, United have a much younger squad that can do the leg work for Messi.

All teams would love to have him, I would love Ed to get Messi on a free, offer more than City and bring in Sancho to say to Messi, "We're renewing Pogba, and Sancho is going to sign, it's a strong squad, we'll give you more than what City can offer".
 
Squeaky Bumtime said:
I'm not saying that. He'd maybe move for a new challenge, to play in a historic stadium for a famous club. We havent disappeared from the map despite we have been in trouble since Fergie left. I'm not saying it will happen, most probably it wont but we're not suddenly some midtable hasbeen.
Click to expand...
Of course not. We are one of the biggest clubs on the planet. My point is that in this particular case, aged 33, he doesn't need to move for the history and tradition, as he already had that at Barcelona. If he's moving, it is to challenge for big titles in a cohesive and settled team, as anyone at that age who is used to winning would. We aren't the place for that, sadly.
 
TheNewEra said:
United aren't as far off as people believe either.

Martial, Rashford, Greenwood, Bruno, Pogba, Maguire, AWB, De Gea is a really good core, having Sancho and Messi would put it in one of the top few teams in Europe.

Waiting for a CB and CDM would push it into that area in the following summer.

City are great don't get me wrong, but they still need to replace Kompany, Aguero and they have a squad that's aging a little more, United have a much younger squad that can do the leg work for Messi.

All teams would love to have him, I would love Ed to get Messi on a free, offer more than City and bring in Sancho to say to Messi, "We're renewing Pogba, and Sancho is going to sign, it's a strong squad, we'll give you more than what City can offer".
Click to expand...
If we get Sancho and Messi, I'd be fine with no transfers for two whole years. Can you imagine how friggin ridiculous we would be to watch!?
 
Might sound crazy but I'm not as convinced that Messi would be a success here as others are. He's often pretty ineffective for Argentina. Not only that but watching him vs Bayern, he obviously didn't have his head in it or something because he was pretty crap really. There are minor warning signs there, if he does leave then I think his heart really needs to be in it or else it might not work out how some are presuming it will.
 
Squeaky Bumtime said:
I'm not saying that. He'd maybe move for a new challenge, to play in a historic stadium for a famous club. We havent disappeared from the map despite we have been in trouble since Fergie left. I'm not saying it will happen, most probably it wont but we're not suddenly some midtable hasbeen.
Click to expand...

We are closer to that than we are challenging for the major honors imo. He only has a few years left at the top, he's not going to want to join a project. Especially not a project that has seemingly been going on for about 10 years now. He will look for a team that will allow him the opportunity to compete for major honors in his last few years.
 
Womp said:
We are closer to that than we are challenging for the major honors imo. He only has a few years left at the top, he's not going to want to join a project. Especially not a project that has seemingly been going on for about 10 years now. He will look for a team that will allow him the opportunity to compete for major honors in his last few years.
Click to expand...
So by that logic he'd come to us even more or I misunderstood? :)
 
If he goes to City we are no longer the top dog in Manchester. It's only taken 7 years since Fergie left. Wow.
 
All these years Ed is talking how we can bring any player in the world. Now he must prove that he didn't talk BS.

Which he did of course
 
He'll do big numbers at City but I'm not convinced he'll be a game over signing for them. They're easy enough to play through as it is, If you add Messi with his zero workrate they'll be even more vulnerable in the crunch games.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
He'll do big numbers at City but I'm not convinced he'll be a game over signing for them. They're easy enough to play through as it is, If you add Messi with his zero workrate they'll be even more vulnerable in the crunch games.
Click to expand...

They have plenty of players to destroy weaker opposition. Messi won’t change that. As you say, in big games they will be even worse with his poor work rate. He would suit us perfect tough.
 
Squeaky Bumtime said:
Why doesnt it make sense to move to Manchester United?
Click to expand...
I know I have jokingly said in another thread that we will win the champions league but I was joking there. Unfortunately I can't see us winning the uefa champions league or premier league even if we signed Messi. Also Messi wants to win the big trophies and we aren't at that stage yet. Jury is out whether we will even be in that position in 5 years time if we mess up this transfer window which may happen at this rate
 
AWB would be delighted if Messi comes. That would mean that he needs to play only defence.
 
amolbhatia50k said:
Of course not. We are one of the biggest clubs on the planet. My point is that in this particular case, aged 33, he doesn't need to move for the history and tradition, as he already had that at Barcelona. If he's moving, it is to challenge for big titles in a cohesive and settled team, as anyone at that age who is used to winning would. We aren't the place for that, sadly.
Click to expand...

City are yet to replace Aguero, and get an established CB, United are in much the same position in terms of squad now as City (if United got Sancho) the issue obviously is City have Pep and also they have a strong bench, United don't.

What United have is a really young team, I honestly see with the right wage, Pogba renewal and Sancho addition telling someone like Messi "Next summer we're going to get a CB and squad players.

With Messi and Sancho I see United competing, so it really wouldn't be the end of the world for him.

Granted, I still think he'll be at City.
 
Slysi17 said:
I know I have jokingly said in another thread that we will win the champions league but I was joking there. Unfortunately I can't see us winning the uefa champions league or premier league even if we signed Messi. Also Messi wants to win the big trophies and we aren't at that stage yet. Jury is out whether we will even be in that position in 5 years time if we mess up this transfer window which may happen at this rate
Click to expand...
On the contrary Messi coming would help us massively to be in for PL and CL.
 
I ultimately think he'll stay at barca but how do you line if you get him.

Awb maguire shaw
Fred mct
Pogba
Messi bruno rash
Martial.

Think you would need fred and mct behind to provide all the running and energy.

Tell awb to just defend.
 
Other then the obvious connection with Pep, are there other reasons so many are so sure he would chose Cheaty? Sanchez did not, Maguire did not, even Fred, Pogba came here from a winning team, Sancho seems he want's to come. Some people seem to forget we are still Manchester United and we are on the up compared to the previous seasons. Liverpool would not have had any top players for 30 years if you go by how some think. Big clubs like United, Liverpoo, Barca, Real will always attract top talent regardless of what position they find themselves in.
 
jackal&hyde said:
Other then the obvious connection with Pep, are there other reasons so many are so sure he would chose Cheaty? Sanchez did not, Maguire did not, even Fred, Pogba came here from a winning team, Sancho seems he want's to come. Some people seem to forget we are still Manchester United and we are on the up compared to the previous seasons. Liverpool would not have had any top players for 30 years if you go by how some think. Big clubs like United, Liverpoo, Barca, Real will always attract top talent regardless of what position they find themselves in.
Click to expand...

Aren't pretty much the city board the ex Barca board during Guardiola's era so they all know each other. Also links with people like Aguero etc.

It would be naive to not think City are way ahead of everyone
 
jackal&hyde said:
Other then the obvious connection with Pep, are there other reasons so many are so sure he would chose Cheaty? Sanchez did not, Maguire did not, even Fred, Pogba came here from a winning team, Sancho seems he want's to come. Some people seem to forget we are still Manchester United and we are on the up compared to the previous seasons. Liverpool would not have had any top players for 30 years if you go by how some think. Big clubs like United, Liverpoo, Barca, Real will always attract top talent regardless of what position they find themselves in.
Click to expand...
And the fact that they can pay him any amount(on the books or off the books).
 
VorZakone said:
Is United the current top dog? No titles since 2013 while City have won 3.
Click to expand...
No one would say even now that City are a bigger club than us. With Messi on board a genuine case can be made. The best player of all time + possibly the best manager of all time when Pep retires.
 
LARulz said:
Aren't pretty much the city board the ex Barca board during Guardiola's era so they all know each other. Also links with people like Aguero etc.

It would be naive to not think City are way ahead of everyone
Click to expand...
It's possible but we tend to win this transfer battles is all i'm saying. We have a chance.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.