[ad_1]
Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona, marking the end of an era in the sport and the partnership between the Catalan giants and the Argentine superstar. If we put the magnifying glass and take a look at the behind-the-scenes developments that led Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona, you will discover a star in shock.
Messi had his contract with Barcelona ready to write last Thursday at Camp Nou and hadn’t foreseen the incredible turnaround in his situation. Even Barca had planned a special announcement for Thursday at 8:45 p.m., both parties being ready to announce to the world a contract renewal until June 30, 2026 with the blaugrana party. Instead, what we got were the two sides still stuck under La Liga rules which was a deal made and completed.
When the news reached Messi and his father Jorge Messi, they were described as surprised, astonished and even in disbelief. But they appreciated the honesty of Barca president Joan Laporta, who let them know that they can no longer fight to maintain his salary at the club based on these rules, as Messi confirmed on Sunday morning during the ‘a surreal farewell press conference at Camp Nou. Indeed, there is still a great relationship but a bittersweet disappointment that we cannot continue this partnership together for a few years as planned.
Fancy even more coverage of the global game? Listen below and follow What purpose! A daily CBS football podcast where we take you beyond the field and around the world for commentary, overviews, recaps and more.
Shortly after 7:45 p.m. On Thursday local time, Barcelona sent the announcement which sent shockwaves through the sports world to this day. Around 9 p.m., not even two hours later, Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo Araújo contacted lawyers for Jorge Messi and Leo to arouse their interest and start negotiations, which took off in 24 hours. PSG were the only club to contact Messi directly without resorting to agents or intermediaries, a move much appreciated by Messi’s side, especially Jorge. The French giants had already approached Messi in April to better assess his contractual situation and his future ahead of his free agency period. At the time, Messi gave the same answer to Parisians as to Manchester City: “No, thank you. I will stay in Barcelona and sign my contract renewal.”
Neither side knew that La Liga’s salary cap rules would then block everything, and it was only then that Messi and his father decided to take PSG’s offer seriously.
That same Thursday evening, Leonardo, along with club president and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, directly began to prepare and draft a contract in verbal form which ultimately convinced Messi. Details of the proposed contract: an agreement until June 30, 2023, with the option to extend his salary by 25 million euros ($ 29.4 million) net per season, plus additions up to a maximum of 35 million euros ($ 41.2 million) for each season through 2024.
Messi is ready to agree, but there are still some details to be worked out and fine-tuned for both sides to come to a full deal and provide signatures in the coming days. It’s just a matter of time. In the locker room, rumors since Friday morning suggest that Neymar, Messi’s closest friend and former Barca teammate, has already announced Messi as a new PSG player.
Everything is on track to be concluded by next week, as PSG are in a hurry and want to get the signatures as soon as possible. Work is also underway on Leo’s arrival in Paris with his father Jorge, with the official presentation in the city. Plans on how they want to make the announcement have already started, as Messi and PSG are ready to start this new adventure, but the timing of the announcement remains uncertain. And to say that barely a week ago the two teams were not even in contact, and since Sunday, Messi at PSG is a reality. Just another amazing story produced by the ever changing transfer market.
[ad_2]
Source link