Lionel Messi future: Will he stay at Barcelona, could he move to the Premier League and what will drive his decision?
Lionel Messi will hold crucial talks next week over his future at Barcelona and whether he sees out his career at the Nou Camp.
The 33-year-old is a free agent at the end of the season and can talk to other clubs about a pre-contract but is waiting for the Barca presidential election on Sunday and is set to talk with the next head of the club before making a decision.
Manchester City have insisted no offer has been made to the Argentina forward and there are currently no talks. He has been understood to be waiting for the election and meeting the successor to Josep Bartomeu, who was accused of going back on promises when Messi looked to leave the club in the summer.
Joan Laporta has claimed during a debate with fellow presidential candidates that Messi would only stay at Barca next season if he was elected.
"I have a great relationship with Leo [Messi] and he will consider whatever proposal I make," said Laporta, who was previously president between 2003 and 2010. "If I don't win, I am sure that Leo will not stay at Barcelona. Messi will weigh up the offer we make him.”
Messi stated last December that he was only staying at Barca this season to avoid taking his club to court over being allowed to leave, insisting his decision to quit was made after the decline of the Spanish club over a period of years.
Why is Messi still at Barcelona?
He believed he could inform Barca he was leaving on a free transfer during a post-season window in the summer. Barca said they needed his request by June 10, even though football was still being played due to the season being delayed for the coronavirus pandemic. La Liga backed Barca and said his £625million buyout clause was valid.
Who could sign him for free?
Only a clutch of teams could afford Messi, who has been revealed to be earning £492million over the length of his last four-year contract. Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with him. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also previously worked with Messi but the club say there have been no negotiations.
Could he leave Europe?
David Beckham has recently spoken about taken players such as Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to Inter Miami where his team are looking to make a huge impression in MLS in America. China has imposed spending limits on new signings and is no longer the destination to earn huge wages. Messi’s former team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta headed to Qatar and Japan respectively after leaving post-Barcelona.
Will we see Messi in the Premier League?
The fact Messi has waited until the Barca elections shows that he is willing to listen to the next president after clashing with Josep Bartomeu. City are the only team in the Premier League who would have a chance of signing him but putting together a deal will not be straightforward. Bookmakers make City favourites to land him. Perhaps he would be the only player in the world who would break the club’s model of refusing to pay over market value.
What will be the big factor in his decision?
Messi will assess the long-term plans of the clubs looking to sign him. He has been frustrated with Barca looking to solve problems with short-term fixes and saw no strategy under Bartomeu. A club with a clear vision for the future and having Messi play a key role in delivering will be the best placed to land him.
How long will he have left?
Messi believes he has another five years left at the top of football, so it will be a long-term move should he leave Barca. This ties in with him wanting to join a good project, or seeing Barca’s strategy improve. He says he could have left the Nou Camp for more money in the past.
