Messi looking for a job: contacting PSG coach

After the initial shock, Lionel Messi is said to have personally pushed the job search on the evening of the football “earthquake” in Barcelona. According to media reports, in a unique situation for the 34-year-old superstar, the Argentine personally contacted his compatriot Mauricio Pochettino – who is the coach of Paris Saint-Germain. Will it soon be called: “Bienvenue Messi”?

€ 490m in debt: Barcelona can no longer afford Messi

The six-time world footballer has not yet made a public statement after the failure of the contract negotiations. The president of FC Barcelona spoke for this and explained why was happening and what should not have happened. Neither from his point of view, let alone from Messi’s point of view, who actually wanted to stay after the persistent attempt to switch a year ago.

Joan Laporta, who returned to office in March, said that the club’s financial situation was so bad due to the “catastrophic management” of recent years that if Messi had been signed on, it would not have been able to meet the requirements of the Spanish professional league. “We have inherited a terrible legacy,” said the 59-year-old.

With Messi’s contract, the salary alone was ten percent higher than the club’s total income. The so-called financial fair play of the Spanish league left no room for maneuver for the club, which was in debt with an incredible 490 million euros.

After 21 years of Messi: new era for Barcelona?

Why this was only discovered at the last moment, however, remained open. Messi has reportedly given up half of his previous, extremely lavish wage. There were also plans to pay the two-year salary – that is how long he should still play for FC Barcelona – over five years.

They had agreed with Messi, Laporta also confirmed the wording of the press release from Thursday evening. “I’m sad, but at the same time I am convinced that we did what is in the best interests of the club,” he said behind the desk with the club emblem that Messi has been wearing since 2000.

At first there are almost only losers. The league because it loses its biggest star three years after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid to Juventus Turin. FC Barcelona, ​​because after 21 years at the club with Messi, a new and, above all, difficult era begins. And Messi too, because unlike a year ago, he didn’t want to leave. The Catalan broadcaster RAC1 reported that he had wanted to stay at Barça and had not negotiated with any other club so far, assuring that Messi was “deeply affected”.

Possible PSG offensive: Messi, Neymar and Mbappé

The recovery from family vacations in Florida and Ibiza was only a day after the Messi’s vacation ended. Father Jorge, who also manages Messi, is said to have spoken to representatives from Paris Saint-Germain, according to media reports. And son Lionel is said to have contacted PSG coach Pochettino himself, according to the British magazine “The Athletic”. Details from the conversation among compatriots were initially not known.

Pochettino did not comment specifically on the alleged phone call with Messi on Friday at a press conference. However, he “did not speak to the English media.” Pochettino confirmed, however, that PSG is examining a commitment of the six-time world footballer.

France’s sports newspaper “L’Équipe” already predicted the “great soap opera” of this summer as far as the future club of the South American is concerned. At PSG, Messi would celebrate a rendezvous with his former Barcelona teammate Neymar and compatriot Angel di Maria. From France, however, it is also rumored that a new contract for the French world champion Kylien Mbappé has top priority, for which Real Madrid is vying.

However, hardly anyone had seriously assumed in the past few weeks that Messi was actually available. And an offensive with Neymar, Messi and Mbappé could well be to the taste of the rich owner sheikhs of PSG Saint-Germain. “It could be quick if Messi opts for Paris,” wrote “RMC Sport” from France.

Manchester City and Chelsea FC may also be interested

But also Manchester City should continue to be the first option, according to “Marca”, especially since Pep Guardiola trains there and thus the coach under whom Messi only really blossomed in Barcelona. The name of FC Chelsea with the German coach Thomas Tuchel was also mentioned in some reports.

One thing is clear: a club must be able to afford a Messi. It is also clear that after a total of 35 unbelievable titles, Messi has even more claims with FC Barcelona. At 34, the Argentine doesn’t have that many career years to go. At the end of next year he wants to show off again with Argentina at the World Cup – especially after he celebrated his first major title with the national team by winning the Copa America a few weeks ago.

Or is it going to Miami?

Speculations that he might now switch to Inter Miami, David Beckham’s club in the American MLS, or indulge in a “millionaire experience” in Qatar (“El Mundo deportivo”) seem very questionable for Messi, who has been since feels at home with his wife and three sons on the coast in Castelldefels south of Barcelona for a long time and is now facing a new phase in his career, unless another huge surprise occurs in the wondrous twists and turns of the past 18 months.

When asked by a journalist whether the last word had already been spoken, club boss Laporta said ambiguously: “I don’t want to raise false hopes.” However, he also emphasized that the negotiations were over.