Lionel Messi, the 35-year-old World Cup winner, is anticipated to reveal his next club in the coming hours, but one thing is certain: it won’t be Barcelona. Despite his longing to return to the club he has called home since the age of 12, Messi’s representatives have informed Barcelona that they can no longer await a proposal that has failed to materialize.
Messi
While Messi is determined to remain in Europe, offers from the continent have been disappointing. In the meantime, Saudi Arabian officials are making preparations for Messi’s arrival at Al-Hilal, and American side Inter Miami is still a viable option.
Barcelona’s media strategy continues to point fingers at Messi and La Liga for the unsuccessful negotiations, but this account is riddled with misinformation and half-truths. The Catalan club has not submitted a proposal to Messi and is grappling with Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions that render his return nearly impossible.
Manager Xavi has asserted that 99% of the conditions for Messi’s comeback rest on the player himself, a misleading depiction of the circumstances. As teams finalize their plans, Barcelona appears to be in damage control, endeavoring to demonstrate that they made every effort to entice Messi.
Messi’s camp has stated that he was willing to play for any salary that would enable Barcelona to comply with FFP rules, or even for free if necessary. Nevertheless, such an agreement would be unacceptable to La Liga and illegal under Spanish law.
The rumor of Messi joining Inter Miami and subsequently being loaned to Barcelona has been discredited, as it originated from the American club and never advanced beyond initial talks. Accusations that La Liga is responsible for the stalemate are baseless, as the league’s regulations exist to shield clubs, including Barcelona, from financial disaster.
Barcelona’s fiscal troubles have been worsened by the club’s enormous debts, which will severely limit their spending capacity. La Liga is expected to relay this information to the club soon, but it will remain confidential until after the transfer market closes.
Alarmingly, the fixation on Messi’s predicament has overshadowed the fact that under President Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s debt is not being reduced at the required pace or in sufficient amounts to sustain a competitive budget for players in Europe.
