Messi

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

We know how hard it is to shift players on 'big' contracts. The likes of coutinho and bale are hilarious though. Does anyone have an accurate breakdown of Barcelona players basic weekly wages? I could do with a laugh. 

[The Horse's Mouth]

4 hours ago, Goober said:

Are people seriously making out he should play for free while the likes of Umtiti are sat there still earning 250k a week 

****ing idiots and think of that money he brings in, that's going straight into the pockets of the people that have ****ed the club royally

[st albans fox]

7 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

This news conference is bizarre. 

 

Couldn't Messi stay and play for free if he really wanted to for a season until they try to resolve their financial situation? 

 

The guy is worth £500 million ffs and alot of that was generated from the help of Barca.

 

6 hours ago, Samilktray said:

But he’s entitled to a wage to do his job like anyone is 

 

6 hours ago, ealingfox said:

He can't play for them for free anyway, they can't register him.

surely he could negotiate a contract where he plays for nothing for a season and then get paid the following season if the club can get their sh1t organised. Otherwise he gets released. 
 

his tears don’t wash with me - if he cares that much then stay.   Possible that la liga won’t allow it as they don’t believe it would be genuine and that other companies would be in effect paying a de facto salary. 

[StanSP]

4 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

 

 

surely he could negotiate a contract where he plays for nothing for a season and then get paid the following season if the club can get their sh1t organised. Otherwise he gets released. 
 

his tears don’t wash with me - if he cares that much then stay.   Possible that la liga won’t allow it as they don’t believe it would be genuine and that other companies would be in effect paying a de facto salary. 

If he plays for free, Barcelona are still over the allowable wage limit by 25%. 

 

They're currently at 115% with him on the books.

If he plays for free, it drops down to 95%. Still not enough.

[st albans fox]

29 minutes ago, StanSP said:

If he plays for free, Barcelona are still over the allowable wage limit by 25%. 

 

They're currently at 115% with him on the books.

If he plays for free, it drops down to 95%. Still not enough.

so they still have to make changes - he’s leaving because he isn’t prepared to play for nothing. So don’t play the victim. There is an option given how much he’s already been paid. 

[StanSP]

1 minute ago, st albans fox said:

so they still have to make changes - he’s leaving because he isn’t prepared to play for nothing. So don’t play the victim. There is an option given how much he’s already been paid. 

Might as well tell everyone to play for free then and stop anyone holding clubs to ransom? It's too easy to suggest that, in my opinion. 

 

Not sure he's even playing the victim. He's leaving a club he's been at for 20+ (?) years and even if he was to play for free, it still isn't financially possible for the club?

 

It's no surprise, to me, he's emotional and upset about it coming to an end. An end of an era at a club he's loved and been so successful at. 

[st albans fox]

7 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Might as well tell everyone to play for free then and stop anyone holding clubs to ransom? It's too easy to suggest that, in my opinion. 

 

Not sure he's even playing the victim. He's leaving a club he's been at for 20+ (?) years and even if he was to play for free, it still isn't financially possible for the club?

 

It's no surprise, to me, he's emotional and upset about it coming to an end. An end of an era at a club he's loved and been so successful at. 

I get all that Stan - but he’s taken way more money from the club than anyone else and he could set himself in history as the first player to play for nothing at the rip level to help his club. He can still leave for free next summer if Barca can’t sort themselves out. 

[StanSP]

7 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

I get all that Stan - but he’s taken way more money from the club than anyone else and he could set himself in history as the first player to play for nothing at the rip level to help his club. He can still leave for free next summer if Barca can’t sort themselves out. 

While this is true, who knows where they would have been without him? 

[Matt]

Crocodile tears. Almost as convincing as when Matt Hancock was crying on TV.

 

This is the same Messi who demanded to leave last summer? Kicking off? Writing a letter he wanted to leave? Trying to screw them over wanting to walk away without a fee? Only to cry today, be careful what you wish for huh?

 

He shouldn't play for free, he shouldn't take a pay cut, if he's been/being offered the money I can't blame him for taking it, but i'm not buying into the tears today. It's like someone made a thread about what Grealish is earning, the clubs are stupid enough to offer it.

 

I just hope it's a wake up call to the big clubs out there, certainly the Man City's, have a look what mess the 2 Spanish giants are in, it's unsustainable, no matter how rich the owners are or how much money is pumped in. Infact, I don't, the sooner Man City's bubble pops the better.

 

Edited 8 August 2021 by Matt

[Finnegan]

8 hours ago, Samilktray said:

But he’s entitled to a wage to do his job like anyone is 

 

Yeah sure but I did find the way he's going about presenting it to be a little bit odd though. 

 

I mean, this time last year he wanted out because the club was in a mess, the president was an idiot, they've got a huge rebuild on, he's only got a few years left in his career and he wanted one last shot at the CL etc. If he'd have had a clean break at the end of the year everyone would have said fair enough. 

 

But to then make a big deal of wanting to stay and to shift the blame and play at being the victim is a bit weird, the tears and the notion that PSG are literally his only option because it's inconceivable that he be paid "just" like 250k a week somewhere or something. 

 

It does leave a bit of a sour taste. If he was that hooked on staying and it did mean that much to him he could play at Barca for peanuts and it'll have ultimately no real impact on his wealth, he's already earned more than he could probably ever spend. 

 

It also feels a bit weird seeing guys like Griezman in the background there giving him a standing ovation, watching the figurative heart and soul of the club crying on the stand as he faces leaving whilst your over paid, over rated ass clinging to your bloated contract and refusing to leave is the reason he has to go. 

 

I dunno. The whole thing is a mess and a great example of how money can ruin the game. 

 

FWIW I'm a big fan of his, always have been and don't for one moment think this tarnishes his legacy but its not a great incident. 

[Wymsey]

That conference definitely looked staged in places.

[Jattdogg]

Leicester option is still on the table mate....do it

[Sly]

I did see Spurs had reached out to him ….

[boots60]

9 hours ago, Jattdogg said:

Leicester option is still on the table mate....do it

Spotted in an Oadby estate agents this morning.

[Finnaldo]

Not sure if I’ve missed someone else saying it but: 

 

1) He can’t be registered to play, even if he signs a new contract playing for free. 
 

2) Spanish law means you CANNOT take over a 50% wage cut in order to prevent financial manipulation. Barca would still be well short of what they need cutting.

 

I don’t feel sorry for him, he’s unbelievably rich and any team would have him, but he’s not under any blame for this. He’s snookered when it comes to  playing for Barca. His only other choice is to sit on his arse waiting for Barca to shred their wage bill and sign on after, but who’s saying any players would be willing to do that? Could be there until next season ffs. 
 

The only ones to blame are Barca for being disgustingly wasteful and suffering the comeuppance of such. Still wouldn’t be surprised if La Liga folded to Barca though.

[TiffToff88]

[Finnegan]

PSG 99% confirmed. Shock of all shocks. Who saw that coming. 

 

Odds of Poch still failing to win owt with a front three of Neymar, Mbappe, Messi? 

 

Edited 10 August 2021 by Finnegan

[RonnieTodger]

Even more boring than him staying at Barcelona

[Wymsey]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

PSG 99% confirmed. Shock of all shocks. Who saw that coming. 

 

Odds of Poch still failing to win owt with a front three of Neymar, Mbappe, Messi? 

 

Just about to state this.

There still seems to be a 'Spursy' attachment on him.

[The Horse's Mouth]

I'd say man city got more chance of winning it than PSG  Messi just makes this team more unbalanced 

Edited 10 August 2021 by The Horse's Mouth

[KFS]

2 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

I'd say man city got more chance of winning it than PSG  Messi just makes this team more unbalanced 

They’ll get Kane now as a reaction 

[foxile5]

They'll have a hell of a forward line there, then.

 

Whilst I see the financial aspect of going to France I'd rather hoped he'd want to test himself in the Premier League. Just a shame we won't get to see him plying his trade at a competitive level at the KP.

[That_Dude]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

PSG 99% confirmed. Shock of all shocks. Who saw that coming. 

 

Odds of Poch still failing to win owt with a front three of Neymar, Mbappe, Messi? 

 

He's got one hell of a dressing room to manage for sure. Scenes when he gets the boot and PSG appoint Zidane.

[TheSomersetFox]

Can't wait to watch that front 3

[KFS]

They still wont win the champions league