PSG discover Messi signing, Man City say ‘not in our thoughts’; Barcelona optimistic in post-Messi period

Barcelona’s announcement that Lionel Messi can be leaving the membership set Paris Saint-Germain scrambling to determine if it may signal essentially the most desired free agent in soccer historical past.
Messi known as PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino, who can also be from Argentina, on Thursday, an individual with data of the state of affairs instructed The Associated Press. The individual spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the individual was not approved to debate non-public discussions.
The individual mentioned PSG was assessing the potential income that may very well be generated by signing Messi whereas additionally paying him an enormous wage and complying with soccer’s monetary rules.
Funded for a decade by Qatari sovereign wealth, PSG is likely one of the few golf equipment on the planet that may afford the 34-year-old Messi’s wage. A problem would seem like making certain ongoing compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play guidelines, though some flexibility has been supplied because of the pandemic and adjustments are because of the system designed to stem losses. It is PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi who, as chairman of the European Club Association and a member of UEFA’s government committee, is concerned within the means of discussing a wider replace to FFP.
PSG’s most up-to-date revealed accounts, masking 2019-20, present the wage invoice was 414.4 million euros ($488 million) on a income of 560 million euros ($659 million) because it already pays huge salaries to Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

Paris Saint-Germain are assured to search out the appropriate ‘deal structure’ quickly to signal Leo Messi after opening direct talks since yesterday. PSG are already engaged on Leo’s potential contract. 🇦🇷🚨 #Messi
Been instructed confidence is rising additionally in PSG dressing room – Neymar is pushing.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2021
Messi was set to make about 70 million euros ($82 million) per 12 months below his new Barcelona contract by taking a 50% pay minimize, but it surely was by no means signed. Barcelona mentioned on Thursday that regardless of reaching an settlement with Messi on the brand new phrases, the Spanish league intervened as a result of the membership wouldn’t be complying with wage cap rules.
It leaves open the potential of the exit announcement being reversed if Barcelona can persuade the league to again off. But Barcelona’s money owed exceed 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion), a plight not attributable to the pandemic however exacerbated by the shortage of income from empty stadiums on prime of years of monetary issues.
While Barcelona’s social media accounts paid tribute to his profession, Messi has but to put up something on-line about leaving the membership he has been at because the age of 13, successful 35 titles. He helped the membership win the Champions League 4 occasions, the Spanish league 10 occasions, the Copa del Rey seven occasions and the Spanish Super Cup eight occasions.

LATEST NEWS | Leo #Messi won’t proceed with FC Barcelona
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 5, 2021
If PSG was to signal Messi, he can be reunited with former Barcelona ahead Neymar. He would even be the newest free arrival on the French membership this offseason, following goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. Like Messi, their contracts expired at Milan, Real Madrid and Liverpool, respectively.
Man City supervisor: Signing Messi ‘not in our thoughts’
Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola poured chilly water on the concept of a reunion with Lionel Messi.
“Right now, (it’s) not in our thoughts, absolutely not,” Guardiola mentioned at a press convention when requested about signing Messi.
Barcelona introduced Thursday that Messi wouldn’t stay with the membership. Team president Joan Laporta on Friday blamed the earlier administration for the membership’s dire monetary state of affairs, which saved it from becoming Messi’s proposed new contract throughout the Spanish league’s truthful play rules. Guardiola — who seems extra keen on Tottenham striker Harry Kane — was the coach at Barcelona from 2008-12 and collectively he and Messi received two Champions League titles and an array of different trophies.

Lionel Messi – End of an Era
The Story.pic.twitter.com/mEkSD6It8T
— ً (@LSComps) August 5, 2021
But he mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Messi. “In the end it was surprise for everyone, me included of course,” Guardiola mentioned. “The president, Laporta, was clear today the reasons why. I didn’t speak with the player or the president so I don’t know what happened.”
“I would love for him to have finished (at Barcelona),” Guardiola mentioned. “I, in fact, want him for the final years of his profession the very best. He won’t be forgotten, that’s for certain.
Barcelona tries to remain optimistic going into post-Messi period
Despite shedding its greatest participant and being mired by monetary difficulties, Barcelona remained assured it’ll maintain succeeding within the post-Lionel Messi period.
Barcelona will begin a season with out Messi for the primary time in almost 20 years however president Joan Laporta mentioned the membership’s motivation might be larger than ever.

A barca fan outdoors the gates of Camp Nou crying whereas holding a Messi jersey 💔
pic.twitter.com/jEHsA1uc0A
— TM (@WholeLeoMessi) August 5, 2021
“We have 122 years of history, we have been through everything and we have always come through,” Laporta mentioned Friday, a day after the Catalan membership introduced it could not be capable to maintain Messi due to its dire monetary state of affairs. “So now we will be more motivated than ever. We want the post-Messi era to be very successful and I think that it will be.”
He mentioned he talked to the squad and requested the gamers to step up in Messi’s absence.