Lionel Messi has become the richest unemployed man in the world by officially leaving Barcelona.
Bizarrely, one of the greatest footballers of all time woke up jobless on Thursday morning, with the Argentine maestro now a free agent for the first time since he was 17 years old, after his contract at the Nou Camp expired at midnight on July 1.
Messi is no longer a Barcelona player… but he might yet sign new terms with the Spanish giants
Messi is no longer a Barcelona player… but he might yet sign new terms with the Spanish giants
The 34-year-old is believed to be the best-paid athlete in the sporting world, with his astronomical salary pushing around £500million over four years.
With that level of wealth, no one would blame the iconic superstar if he hung up his boots after a celebrated and historic career with the Catalan club – which stretches all the way back to 2001.
However, the transfer carousel over Messi has been spinning that crazy for months, with Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Major League Soccer all touted as possible next destinations.
Messi tried to leave Barcelona last summer, handing in a transfer request amid the club’s financial turmoil, failures on the pitch and his soured relationship with the hierarchy.
But that was swiftly rejected, and reports in Spain claim he is going nowhere, despite officially not being a Barcelona player for the first time since he was a teenager.
Lionel Messi was won a record six Ballon d’Ors and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time
Lionel Messi was won a record six Ballon d’Ors and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time
Messi’s growing unrest at the Nou Camp was soothed by the return of ally Joan Laporta as the club’s president, replacing the unpopular Josep Maria Bartomeu, plus the arrival of close friend, Sergio Aguero.
The Argentina striker, who arrived on a free transfer from Man City earlier this summer, has been room-mates with Messi since their emergence on the international scene for Argentina. Messi is even the Godfather of Aguero’s son, Benjamin.
It has been widely claimed Aguero has teamed up with his new club to convince Messi to stay, and – while fears were sparked when he was not involved in their new kit launch – reports claim he has already agreed fresh terms – despite his previous deal expiring.
Barcelona insider Reshad Rahman claims Messi is now open to staying and has already verbally agreed to renew his contract at the Nou Camp.
Aguero has signed a two-year deal with Barcelona
Aguero has signed a two-year deal with Barcelona
getty
And Aguero’s first job is to convince best mate Messi to stay – with both currently on international duty with Argentina
And Aguero’s first job is to convince best mate Messi to stay – with both currently on international duty with Argentina
The finer financial details, such as tax, still need to be agreed, but they are the only thing stopping the deal becoming official.
“We want him to stay and Leo wants to stay as well, everything is on the right track,” Laporta told El Transistor.
“We have to sort out the financial fair play, but we are in the process of finding the best solution for all parties”
The expiration of his contract does come with complications, though, as Messi will – for now – no longer be paid his weekly salary, which stood at an eye-watering £2.4m per week.
That’s not terrible news for Barcelona, whose financial struggles have been well documented, but there is bad news for the club in that the club’s kit manufacturers Nike cannot include him in any adverts.
Barca can also no longer sell their popular ‘Messi 10’ shirts for the time being.
Fans will not be able to buy an official ‘Messi 10’ Barcelona shirt until the legend signs a new deal
Fans will not be able to buy an official ‘Messi 10’ Barcelona shirt until the legend signs a new deal
Many do not expect this to last long, however, as it is said Messi will pen a new two-year contract.
After that, who knows, but it is expected the maestro will then make what would surely be the final swansong move in his legendary career.
Reports have claimed he could then join David Beckham Stateside in his MLS team, Inter Miami, and wind down his career in the United States.
Not a bad way to go for one of the game’s greatest ever players.
Lionel Messi officially unemployed for first time since he was 17, but out-of-contract icon set to sign new deal with Barcelona
footballng.com
Lionel Messi has become the richest unemployed man in the world by officially leaving Barcelona.
Bizarrely, one of the greatest footballers of all time woke up jobless on Thursday morning, with the Argentine maestro now a free agent for the first time since he was 17 years old, after his contract at the Nou Camp expired at midnight on July 1.
Messi is no longer a Barcelona player… but he might yet sign new terms with the Spanish giants
Messi is no longer a Barcelona player… but he might yet sign new terms with the Spanish giants
The 34-year-old is believed to be the best-paid athlete in the sporting world, with his astronomical salary pushing around £500million over four years.
With that level of wealth, no one would blame the iconic superstar if he hung up his boots after a celebrated and historic career with the Catalan club – which stretches all the way back to 2001.
However, the transfer carousel over Messi has been spinning that crazy for months, with Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Major League Soccer all touted as possible next destinations.
Messi tried to leave Barcelona last summer, handing in a transfer request amid the club’s financial turmoil, failures on the pitch and his soured relationship with the hierarchy.
But that was swiftly rejected, and reports in Spain claim he is going nowhere, despite officially not being a Barcelona player for the first time since he was a teenager.
Lionel Messi was won a record six Ballon d’Ors and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time
Lionel Messi was won a record six Ballon d’Ors and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time
Messi’s growing unrest at the Nou Camp was soothed by the return of ally Joan Laporta as the club’s president, replacing the unpopular Josep Maria Bartomeu, plus the arrival of close friend, Sergio Aguero.
The Argentina striker, who arrived on a free transfer from Man City earlier this summer, has been room-mates with Messi since their emergence on the international scene for Argentina. Messi is even the Godfather of Aguero’s son, Benjamin.
It has been widely claimed Aguero has teamed up with his new club to convince Messi to stay, and – while fears were sparked when he was not involved in their new kit launch – reports claim he has already agreed fresh terms – despite his previous deal expiring.
Barcelona insider Reshad Rahman claims Messi is now open to staying and has already verbally agreed to renew his contract at the Nou Camp.
Aguero has signed a two-year deal with Barcelona
Aguero has signed a two-year deal with Barcelona
getty
And Aguero’s first job is to convince best mate Messi to stay – with both currently on international duty with Argentina
And Aguero’s first job is to convince best mate Messi to stay – with both currently on international duty with Argentina
The finer financial details, such as tax, still need to be agreed, but they are the only thing stopping the deal becoming official.
“We want him to stay and Leo wants to stay as well, everything is on the right track,” Laporta told El Transistor.
“We have to sort out the financial fair play, but we are in the process of finding the best solution for all parties”
The expiration of his contract does come with complications, though, as Messi will – for now – no longer be paid his weekly salary, which stood at an eye-watering £2.4m per week.
That’s not terrible news for Barcelona, whose financial struggles have been well documented, but there is bad news for the club in that the club’s kit manufacturers Nike cannot include him in any adverts.
Barca can also no longer sell their popular ‘Messi 10’ shirts for the time being.
Fans will not be able to buy an official ‘Messi 10’ Barcelona shirt until the legend signs a new deal
Fans will not be able to buy an official ‘Messi 10’ Barcelona shirt until the legend signs a new deal
Many do not expect this to last long, however, as it is said Messi will pen a new two-year contract.
After that, who knows, but it is expected the maestro will then make what would surely be the final swansong move in his legendary career.
Reports have claimed he could then join David Beckham Stateside in his MLS team, Inter Miami, and wind down his career in the United States.
Not a bad way to go for one of the game’s greatest ever players.
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