Lionel Messi, the Argentine footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, made headlines in August 2021 when he announced his departure from Barcelona. The shock move came after the club’s president. Joan Laporta, revealed that the team was unable to register Messi’s new contract due to financial constraints. Transfer of Lionel Messi is seemed as though the player would be forced to leave the club he had called home for his entire career.
However, after weeks of negotiations, Messi signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on August 10th, 2021. The move was seen as a huge coup for PSG, who were able to secure the services of one of the world’s best players on a free transfer. But how did the deal come about, and what does it mean for both clubs?
The first hint that Messi might be leaving. Barcelona came in July 2021, when Laporta revealed that the club was struggling financially. He stated that the team had to reduce its wage bill in order to comply with La Liga’s. Financial Fair Play rules, and that this would involve selling players. Although Messi was not explicitly mentioned, it was widely assumed that the club’s greatest asset would be the first to go.
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However, negotiations between Barcelona and Messi continued throughout July and early August, with both parties trying to find a solution that would keep the player at the club. Messi reportedly agreed to a 50% pay cut in order to stay. But this was not enough to satisfy La Liga’s rules. As a result, on August 5th, Barcelona announced that Messi would be leaving the club.
This news triggered a frenzy of speculation about where Messi might go next. Although a number of top European clubs were linked with the player, including Manchester City and. Chelsea, it was PSG who emerged as the frontrunners. The French club, which is owned by. Qatar Sports Investments, has spent heavily on players in recent years. And has a squad that includes some of the world’s best players, such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
