Maria Laura Avignolo
08/05/2021 10:41 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 08/05/2021 10:41 PM
Wednesday afternoon in Paris.
There are at least 24 hours left for the world of football to be moved by the news of the unexpected departure of Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona.
In the least expected place on a summer afternoon in the always flirtatious French capital, a gossip told in passing turns into a kind of premonition.
"Nothing is as it seems. Things are not going well with Barcelona. There is an 80 percent chance that he will come to PSG ”,
says an elegant lady, totally removed from the world of football, but very well connected with important and informed people.
He was talking, of course, about the captain of the Argentine National Team and he was also talking about Paris Saint-Germain.
He mentioned, surprisingly and unintentionally, the growing possibilities that the paths of the Argentine crack and the club with the most powerful wallet on the planet will finally converge.
Lionel Messi talks to Neymar after the Copa América final between Argentina and Brazil at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
EFE / ANTONIO LACERDA
The gossip seemed to have no basis despite the image that circulated since Tuesday afternoon on Instagram: Messi hugging with the Brazilian Neymar, the Argentine Leandro Paredes and Ángel Di María and the Italian Marco Verratti.
The 10 of Barcelona with four PSG figures.
At the time it seemed unlikely.
Especially considering that the information that came from Barcelona assumed that Messi would sign his new contract with the Catalan club this week.
But everything changed since noon yesterday when the negotiations were closed.
And so it was how PSG, the gossip club, made a point among the possible destinations for the captain of the Argentine National Team.
In fact, in the last hours of yesterday, some French media assured that Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, owner of the Parisian club, had already started talks with Jorge Messi and that Leo would have received a call from coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Is the Messi-Neymar-Mbappé trident coming?
Will you finally get together with Sergio Ramos?
Will a hypothetical landing of Messi hasten the Frenchman's departure to Real Madrid?
We have to wait.
The other applicants
Together.
Guardiola and Messi, in their two best versions.
Photo: Reuters
What if it is not PSG?
The other club with a powerful wallet is Manchester City, a place where Messi could meet Pep Guardiola again.
However, the Citizens have other plans.
They have just confirmed the incorporation of Jake Grealish, Aston Villa's star, and are following in the footsteps of Harry Kane, Tottenham's inveterate scorer.
Between the two of them he would spend about 300 million euros.
An investment that would block any type of intention to add Messi.
In the Premier League the other teams with sporting ambitions capable of seducing the Argentine are Manchester United and Chelsea.
But so far neither of them showed interest.
Not even when it seemed that his departure from Barcelona was materialized from the burofax.
And the Calcium?
Two possible destinations could appear there.
Juventus, which already has Cristiano Ronaldo in its ranks - it has one year left on its contract - but also has some cash flow problems in its treasury.
Can you imagine the Flea and CR7 together?
It seems difficult.
The other candidate is Inter, the last king of Serie A, where Leo could meet up with Lautaro Martínez, one of his attacking partners in the Copa América.
However, to make room for Messi he would have to get rid of Romelu Lukaku.
Lionel Messi and his family, on vacation in Miami after winning the Copa América with the Argentine National Team.
Photo IG antonelaroccuzzo
The Belgian sounds to return to the Premier League -Chelsea wants it yes or yes-.
However, the Milan club, with Chinese capital, is also pulling back to accommodate its finances after the shock that caused the stoppage due to the coronavirus.
Then all roads would lead to PSG.
Especially because it sounds unlikely that Messi decides to take an early retirement and go to the MLS in the United States.
While you are looking forward to an experience in North America, this does not seem like the ideal time.
Especially for his desire to win the
Orejona again
.
The same goes for exotic destinations such as Qatar or the Emirates, where you can pocket millions, but you would not have the possibility to enlarge your legend.
Paris.
Correspondent
.