Well, on that bombshell… it’s time to end. Specifically, his PSG career. If you haven’t heard, PSG have suspended Lionel Messi for 2 weeks after taking his second vacation in 10 days, this time to Saudi Arabia. While, yes, technically PSG do have one more match after Messi’s suspension, but they will have won the league by then and if they haven’t, the bridge has been burned to the point of no return anyway. So yes, Leo Messi has played his final match with PSG. So what happens now?
First, Barcelona. The likeliest option. PSG, Barca’s biggest opponent in the race for Messi, is out of the conversation. It is thought that Messi will accept the lower possible offer by Barcelona to help out their financial situation. Today’s controversy has significantly increased Barca’s standing in the race by effectively eliminating PSG. What’s standing in their way? Javier Tebas and La Liga, the thing that stopped Barca last time they tried to get Messi to sign a contract.
If Barcelona can’t sign Messi, next up would probably be Man City. It would be a dream reunion with Pep Guardiola for Messi, under whom he’s had his best seasons, and he’d get to link up with Erling Haaland, which would be a dream duo. It would also give Messi a chance in the Premier League, something that has been one of the missing pieces to his career, a solid backup option.
Personally, I think that ends the list. If I had to pick another team, I might say a MLS or Saudi team, but that avenue is unbelievably unlikely I won’t even entertain the notion. A very short post today, but I just wanted to get some thoughts out on this bombshell. I’m Jim James, until next time.