Messi has requested a transfer

[K]

Messi has requested a transfer.

Will be interesting to see what happens now.

[Jezza]

It's a massive development.

Barcelona supporters are in meltdown and can't believe that their greatest ever player may depart in bad circumstances. Though a fresh start might be required for both parties. Barcelona need to undergo a rebuild and Messi may not want to wait around for them to be strong again as they rebuild.

This could also be a standoff between Messi and Barcelona's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. There's every chance one of the men won't be at the club come the opening day of the new season.

The media is suggesting eight clubs across Europe could have the potential to sign Messi. This includes Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan and PSG. Realistically, I think Man City, PSG and Inter would be his most likely destinations if he was to leave Spain.

Whatever happens, this is a fascinating set of events.

[K]

Can Messi thrive in the EPL?

I saw that sb has already created a Messi market. I didn't check the odds.

[Jezza]

Premier League is a much more physical league than La Liga, so he would have to adapt to that.

Though, this is Messi. I think he can play in any league and thrive.

[K]

Has he thrived in WCs for Argentina? Did we expect too much of him there? (Maybe Maradona set an impossibly high bar with his own performances.)

[Jezza]

Messi hasn't been bad at international level, but the lack of silverware will mean he always lives in Maradona's shadow.

Argentina's squad has underachieved for years, and there's been various reasons for this outside Messi's control.

They've had a good enough squad to win the World Cup and Copa America in the last decade. Apart from Messi, there's Aguero, Di Maria, Higuain, Lavezzi, Mascherano, Tevez and Ottamendi who have all played alongside him so it's hardly a squad bereft of talent.

[K]

Player | Messi | Ronaldo
Games | 19 | 17
Starts | 17 | 17
Win % | 68.4 | 36.8
Mins | 1624 | 1474
Goals | 6 | 7
Assists | 5 | 2
Chances Created | 54 | 22
Shots, Total | 72 | 91
Shots, on Target | 28 | 33
Shot Conversion Rate | 8.3 | 7.7
Passes | 881 | 499
Passing Accuracy | 83.7 | 84.6
Dribbles Attempted | 173 | 86
Dribbles Completed | 110 | 38

https://www.goal.com/en-au/news/ronaldo ... lrwrekempx

[Pies4shaw]

^ This is a strange comparison - neither of them would, I'd guess, be in the top 25 scorers at the World Cup finals and neither would get a spot in an all-time greatest World Cup team. It's a little like comparing the stats for Buckley and Ablett Snr in Grand Finals and just agreeing not to mention Brereton, Bartlett or the Coventrys.

[K]

They are compared with each other all the time.

Who would be the best WC performer in this age? Probably all of them have had ups and downs, sometimes in the same game. (e.g. ZZ.)

[K]

While we await further news...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waETo-ZWCRw

Strangely, it seems that I can understand Catalan perfectly.

[K]

"Senior figures at Barcelona expect Lionel Messi to join Manchester City, with the Spanish club preparing for life without their iconic captain by looking at potential replacements including Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
...

Messi had hoped to leave on a free transfer but that is looking highly unlikely with City expected to have to pay a significant fee to sign the 33-year-old if a deal can be agreed.
...

For Barcelona, labouring under a wage bill of €671 million and losses from the pandemic estimated at €154 million from their projected budget, the fee for Messi is crucial for the club.
...

The Messi camp's position that the delay to the season's end means he should be able to activate the May 31 clause in his contract that allows him to leave for free is likely to fail. They had previously argued that clause should be extended to tomorrow, the end of this month."

(Daily Telegraph)

[K]

Lionel Messi skips medical as La Liga sides with Barcelona over contract dispute

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/30/foot ... index.html


[Is it time to put money on Man City getting him?]

[Presti35]

Pretty sure he wants to join the toon army

[Jezza]

Sounds like Manchester City are favourites to sign him.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/football-ba ... 25603.html

[Pies4shaw]

Isn't the transfer fee another 700-odd million Euros?