Hurt by the humiliating defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and dismayed by the
club’s political situation, Lionel Messi is as close as he has ever been to leaving
Barcelona.
It may be a political move, a tactic designed to force club President Josep Bartomeu into
a resignation, but Messi appears sincere and has signalled his intention to exercise his
right to unilaterally terminate his contract.
A right which Barcelona intend to contest.
It may therefore not happen, but If Messi does leave, there are only a handful of clubs
that can afford him.
The two Manchester clubs offer different incentives. PSG are wealthy enough and would reunite Messi
with his close friend and former teammate Neymar. And in Italy, Inter and Juventus offer
compelling opportunities, not least pairing Messi and Ronaldo for the first time.
Clubs will also be thinking about what such a signing would allow them to do off the pitch.
Ultimately, this is about more than football.
Tactically, this move makes sense. Pep Guardiola is the manager who has got the most from Messi.
He can be more of a creator now - he registered 21 assists in La Liga last season, a league
record, and 6.88 shot creating actions. Guardiola could adjust his midfield positionally to
play Messi in the ten space; a more central, more attacking David Silva replacement.
There’s no doubt that City can draw on the finances required. Nor that they would see
the commercial opportunity of a player who, theoretically, would help them close the revenue
gap to neighbours United. But City also have more squad overhauling to do, especially in
replacing Sergio Aguero, and any Messi deal would impact their ability to renovate other
areas of the side.
PSG, who are owned by Qatar Sports Investments, certainly have the financial muscle for this
fight. They also have the lure of Neymar, a player with whom Messi formed a tight personal
and playing bond.
In the past, Messi reportedly lobbied for Neymar’s return to Barcelona and would welcome
the chance to line up with him again, as well as the opportunity to play alongside the incendiary
Kylian Mbappe.
Tactically, Thomas Tuchel might be tempted to play Messi through the middle, dropping
off and orchestrating play to Neymar and Mbappe in what would theoretically the best front
three in world football.
Di Maria might miss out, or drop back to a creative, linking, mezzala role in the midfield
three. PSG have options and Tuchel is a smart coach.
But would he survive? Tuchel hasn’t won anything outside France apart from the DFB-Pokal
and might not be a sufficiently big name to persuade Messi. And there are other issues:
Messi is ADIDAS’s biggest football client and the German manufacturer are unlikely to
subsidise any deal for him to wear a Nike shirt.
But again, having fallen just short of the Champions League this season, PSG might see
Messi as the key to winning Europe’s top prize and the legitimacy the club obviously
craves.
Inter are being closely linked with Messi and Suning Holdings, the club’s Chinese
owners, could afford him too. Italy is an attractive destination for footballers, with
its low rates of taxation and Serie A’s stated ambition to reclaim its primacy. Facing
off domestically against Ronaldo could be a lure and Inter are also in the process of
an astute rebuilding, signing talents like Achraf Hakimi and being heavily linked with
Sandro Tonali.
Antonio Conte has the pedigree to persuade Messi of his coaching abilities, but his autocratic
style and inflexible personality might lead to clashes. It’s difficult to see him being
deferential to any player.
Nonetheless, Messi could work well in Conte’s 3-5-2, being covered by a dynamic midfield
and pairing intriguingly with the rejuvenated Romelu Lukaku. That would free Lautaro Martinez
up for a big money move too, helping to offset some part of Messi’s enormous wage.
It would be a transformational move. Both for Serie A and also Chinese soft power in
sport. A 2020 survey conducted by Mailman, the digital sports consultancy, found Barcelona
to be China’s most popular club, with 16.3m followers on Weibo. Were Messi, who the report
also names as the country’s third most popular player, to move, then much of that attention
would likely accompany him.
United’s failed pursuit of Jadon Sancho this window shows an appetite for an elite
right-sided player and Messi could jump straight into the hole, if not the system.
United are currently best when counter-attacking at pace, though, and adaptations would be
needed. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might find himself eased out, too, as it’s hard to envisage
his coaching pedigree impressing the world’s best player, with the Norwegian yet to win
a major trophy.
But Messi to United, which is helped by Adidas’ relationship with the club, would make far
more sense off the pitch than on it. It’s the sort of power signing that Ed Woodward
and the Glazers like to make – think Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016 – and would fit many
of their global commercial aspirations.
And, as the Sancho efforts showed, there’s money available.
Perhaps a dark horse, but this move makes a lot of sense. Andrea Agnelli, Juventus’
Chairman, is the energy behind the move for European club competition reform and – by
implication – a super league.
Juve are also an Adidas club, which is a virtue, and enjoy the historical patronage of car
manufacturing giant FIAT, who offered to subsidise Cristiano Ronaldo’s wages back in 2018.
And uniting Ronaldo and Messi would be a commercial director’s fantasy, potentially providing
Juve with an unimaginably large share of all sorts of footballing market.
On the pitch, Juventus are also in a potentially unique position. With new manager Andrea Pirlo
in charge, Juventus can prioritise style and players over system and construct a new way
of playing that fits both players.
Pirlo has no managerial credibility but as a hugely respected player and club icon, it’s
fairly easy to see him striking up a good, collaborative relationship with Messi and
Ronaldo.
Messi to Juventus would cement Agnelli’s status as perhaps the most influential chairman
in European football, and, having already shown that they can handle one global superstar
without over-shadowing the club, Juventus have the ego to make this work.