If this is how it ends, it's a shame to see what was once such a successful partnership turn so sour and potentially end in a court case. Couldn't have imagined this 10 years ago.
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Messi Tells Barcelona He Wants To Leave Soccer
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The post conveys important news but lacks detailed context about the implications of Messi's decision and the reaction from the club.
The fact we're having to go through the mental gymnastics of wondering how Leo can go from €1m/wk and €15m of bonuses a year to *just* [insert reasonable wage here] whilst conveniently ignoring his €700m release clause tells us all what this breaking news is about. This is as much about Bartomeu as Messi.
Even if Messi somehow gets out of Barcelona on a free, someone tell me which club in the world has enough wiggle room on their wage bill to pay him €65m/year?
If you're a club with that scale of unused resources on your books then you're doing something wrong.
"But he'll take a pay cut to win the Champions League!"
So he'll join Bayern then instead of the club who keep finding creative ways to get knocked out in the quarter-finals. I can't see any way that Man City get to the front of this non-existent queue for Leo Messi.
Even if Messi somehow gets out of Barcelona on a free, someone tell me which club in the world has enough wiggle room on their wage bill to pay him €65m/year?
If you're a club with that scale of unused resources on your books then you're doing something wrong.
"But he'll take a pay cut to win the Champions League!"
So he'll join Bayern then instead of the club who keep finding creative ways to get knocked out in the quarter-finals. I can't see any way that Man City get to the front of this non-existent queue for Leo Messi.
I was listening to a podcast this morning and Guillem Balagué was talking about this. He says it is not a power struggle between Messi and Bartomeu and that Messi will leave the club. He also thinks Man City is the only destination.
Really it is City or PSG and that's it. They are the only ones who can afford him and offer him success.
Rumours circulating on social media that Messi and Man City have agreed personal terms.
Messi and De Bruyne in the same team? Mouthwatering!!
Reports today of £90 million plus Jesus, Garcia and Bernardo Silva. You'd have to consider that at least considering the amount of rebuilding is needed at the club.
A young Spanish centre back (a position they need) and also a player of Bernardo Silva's quality.
Jesus is the question mark. He gets goals but not at the level you'd expect, but with 3 players all yet to hit there prime and £90 million, plus with the three of them you'd imagine there wages still wouldn't be as much as Messi's, you'd have to think about it
A young Spanish centre back (a position they need) and also a player of Bernardo Silva's quality.
Jesus is the question mark. He gets goals but not at the level you'd expect, but with 3 players all yet to hit there prime and £90 million, plus with the three of them you'd imagine there wages still wouldn't be as much as Messi's, you'd have to think about it
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- #18
Messi doing his shopping in Tesco or Asda would be quite an odd sight 
In my opinion Barcelona should bite the hand of anybody that offers them a good deal for Messi.
Yes, I know, it is Messi, one of the greatest of all time. But there is no point having Messi if you aren't going to win anything, and it is very clear that Barcelona with Messi are a long way from winning and getting further away by the season. So what's it all about? Do they exist to be successful or to be a platform for a player?
Getting a large transfer fee and getting his extortionate wages off the books would go a long way to starting a refresh of the club, they would be insane not to see that as desirable.
By anything do you just mean the Champions League? They've still been winning the league pretty much every season, and should have won it this season too but threw it away stupidly in the home stretch with draws against Seville and Celta, and a loss to Osasuna. And in the latter two of those games, the results swung on last minute goals against them. If Messi stays, they'll probably still be favourites for La Liga next year again.