Messi Vs Barca

Intrigue Surrounds Superstar’s Next Move After Transfer Request Bombshell

When Barcelona confirmed they had received a request from Lionel Messi’s lawyers informing them he wanted to terminate one of soccer’s longest-standing relationships, the owners of Europe’s biggest clubs would have raised a collective eyebrow.

It was akin to the Mona Lisa suddenly becoming available on the art market, such is Messi’s status in the game despite the fact that he is 33 and the magic might soon begin to fade.

Already the usual suspects are being lined up as Messi’s next club with, not surprisingly, a reunion with his former manager Pep Guardiola at Manchester City the most likely scenario according to the bookmakers.

There is talk of Messi joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo, his long-term rival as the world’s greatest player, at Juventus or linking-up again with Neymar at Paris St Germain as they bid to end their Champions League jinx.

Inter Milan’s Chinese owners would also see Messi as the player to turn them back into a European force. Yet despite the inevitable excitement, it is by no means certain Messi will have multiple options if the split with the Catalan giants he joined as a teenager in 2001 is irreparable.

Messi insists a clause in his contract allows him to leave for free a scenario that would attract a frenzy of suitors. Barcelona, however, say that clause has expired and a rival club must pay his release clause of 700 million euros ($826 million) if he is to leave without the club’s consent.

Should Barcelona stick to their guns it would knock most potential buyers out of the ball park, especially with Messi’s one million euros per week salary demand.

Messi’s disenchantment with the club’s hierarchy, notably club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, could have been a factor in the transfer request but even a footballing genius cannot defy the passing years.