Messi to leave Barca

It's kind of a pathetic move him going to PSG and one that diminishes his legacy in my eyes. He could show that he was his own man (brand) and choose his own destiny by going his own way, one not motivated by the big dollar or meeting the needs of his brand specialists at Nike.

Imagine if he returned to Argentina? That would have been romantic and would have enshrined his status further. But he's opted for the easy option of going to that shameless circus in Ligue 1.

He doesn't need to win another Champions League or Ballon D'or. It's a morally cheap move with no style or substance.

Last minute offer from LFC? JWH sells one of his yachts to fund Messi's wages for a couple of years, sees that he'll be paid back in brand awareness and shirt sales, our back up forward sorted, Origi and Shaq to Barce as part of their rebuild.

It's kind of a pathetic move him going to PSG and one that diminishes his legacy in my eyes. He could show that he was his own man (brand) and choose his own destiny by going his own way, one not motivated by the big dollar or meeting the needs of his brand specialists at Nike.

Imagine if he returned to Argentina? That would have been romantic and would have enshrined his status further. But he's opted for the easy option of going to that shameless circus in Ligue 1.

He doesn't need to win another Champions League or Ballon D'or. It's a morally cheap move with no style or substance.

Messi is an Adidas guy right?

I think he’s earned the right to play where he wants. I’m actually not a big fan of his but if he still wants to play for the highest honors then his options are pretty limited. There are like two clubs that can afford him.

Messi is an Adidas guy right?

I think he’s earned the right to play where he wants. I’m actually not a big fan of his but if he still wants to play for the highest honors then his options are pretty limited. There are like two clubs that can afford him.

He's only leaving cos Barca are skint.

He's only leaving cos Barca are skint.

Right, but I’m saying at this point, he can go where he wants.

Messi is an Adidas guy right?

I think he’s earned the right to play where he wants. I’m actually not a big fan of his but if he still wants to play for the highest honors then his options are pretty limited. There are like two clubs that can afford him.

Adidas, Nike... both the same corrupt organisations really.

I think the point I was getting at was that there is no human element to going to PSG aside from greed. Plain as. But hey, that's modern football.

Adidas, Nike... both the same corrupt organisations really.

I think the point I was getting at was that there is no human element to going to PSG aside from greed. Plain as. But hey, that's modern football.

He obviously chased the money. Wonder if his wages will be made public.

He obviously chased the money. Wonder if his wages will be made public.

Exactly. The reason why the whole Ronaldo/Messi debate is not worthy to be held in the Pepe/Maradona stakes is because both have seen the battle in monetary/materialistic terms instead of pure footballing terms. Yeah, I know they both played in a highly commodified game now compared to the latter two but they still have choice.

It's become quite vulgar and Messi taking it to a new low by descending to PSG's pimped up existence is depressing. No offence to the club, but no one in that team dreamed of playing for PSG. Same goes for Man City. I mean who the F**k does? They're there for one reason and one reason only.

Genuinely f**king rank.

Exactly. The reason why the whole Ronaldo/Messi debate is not worthy to be held in the Pepe/Maradona stakes is because both have seen the battle in monetary/materialistic terms instead of pure footballing terms. Yeah, I know they both played in a highly commodified game now compared to the latter two but they still have choice.

It's become quite vulgar and Messi taking it to a new low by descending to PSG's pimped up existence is depressing. No offence to the club, but no one in that team dreamed of playing for PSG. Same goes for Man City. I mean who the f**k does? They're there for one reason and one reason only.

Genuinely f**king rank.

Sorry to nitpick, but what do you think was Pele's main motivation to play for the NY Cosmos? It might be worse now, but I'm afraid money already ruled the word back then.

Right, but I’m saying at this point, he can go where he wants.

He can't really as his wage demands would probably rule out most teams.

Sorry to nitpick, but what do you think was Pele's main motivation to play for the NY Cosmos? It might be worse now, but I'm afraid money already ruled the word back then.

I think Pele having spent a lifetime at Santos going for a life in semi retirement in New York is a bit different from this. And at the very least, Pele was raising the profile of the game in the US by doing something like that.

Sorry to nitpick, but what do you think was Pele's main motivation to play for the NY Cosmos?

Money for viagra tablets!!

I think Pele having spent a lifetime at Santos going for a life in semi retirement in New York is a bit different from this. And at the very least, Pele was raising the profile of the game in the US by doing something like that.

Fair enough. Although raising the profile of the game was definitely more of an 'added bonus' than a real motivation.

Still, I believe we tend to romanticize the past and forget that money was already very much involved at the time (we're all guilty of it, by the way).

Fair enough. Although raising the profile of the game was definitely more of an 'added bonus' than a real motivation.

Still, I believe we tend to romanticize the past and forget that money was already very much involved at the time (we're all guilty of it, by the way).

The level of money involved now is astronomical compared to the "good old days"

He can't really as his wage demands would probably rule out most teams.

Which is why he’s going to PSG. That’s all I was getting at with my original point. The man is at a level that demands more in wages that most teams can pay so to say he’s somehow immoral for going to PSG?? It is what it is. He could play for less but so could have Gini and yet people on this forum were very much in the “Gini deserves a last big money deal” camp.

Yea apparently Barca’s wage bill currently is at 115% threshold for La Liga is 80% meaning even if he played for free this would reduce it to 90% and they will still be over.

You couldn't make this sh*t up:

https://twitter.com/Sport_Witness/status/1424466604033781763

Basically some Barca fans want to stop Messi's transfer to PSG by arguing it's unfair competition: Barca has to adhere to La Liga's financial rules but PSG does not face the same restrictions in France.


But on the other hand they're ok with their club living above their means and recruiting players they cannot afford: they're now asking their players to take a pay cut to allow the registration of their new recruits.

https://twitter.com/Sport_Witness/status/1424364706597376011

At what point does someone get involved to stop this shitshow???

Man leaves job, drama ensues.

This world is f**king crazy.

If he wanted to stay at the club thrn why didn’t he just play for free,? I mean the club have looked after him generously over the years..

It’s obvious Barca didn’t want the drama surrounding him every year & behind close doors are quite happy with the process despite what they say in public..

If he wanted to stay at the club thrn why didn’t he just play for free,? I mean the club have looked after him generously over the years..

It’s obvious Barca didn’t want the drama surrounding him every year & behind close doors are quite happy with the process despite what they say in public..

Don’t know whether it’s true, I saw a quote attributed to Messi that said he was willing to take a 50% pay cut to stay. If so, you may be right about Barca being ok cutting ties.

If he wanted to stay at the club thrn why didn’t he just play for free,? I mean the club have looked after him generously over the years..

It’s obvious Barca didn’t want the drama surrounding him every year & behind close doors are quite happy with the process despite what they say in public..

He couldn’t stay and play for free - even with Messi leaving it still doesn’t give enough space for any players to sign , they need a lot of players to take pay cuts

Don’t know whether it’s true, I saw a quote attributed to Messi that said he was willing to take a 50% pay cut to stay. If so, you may be right about Barca being ok cutting ties.

Barcelona wanted to offload players like Greizmann, Dembele and Coutinho- getting rid of them and their wages would have allowed Messi to stay on 50% wages but no takers for those other three

Barcelona wanted to offload players like Greizmann, Dembele and Coutinho- getting rid of them and their wages would have allowed Messi to stay on 50% wages but no takers for those other three

but they also added Aguero and Depay to the payroll before any of those got sold, making it even harder to fit Messi in.

but they also added Aguero and Depay to the payroll before any of those got sold, making it even harder to fit Messi in.

Wouldn't be surprised if they believed La Liga would make an exception for them. That's the arrogant way they think...