PSG will trigger Lionel Messi's £210m bid
Paris Saint Germain could be successful in an ambitious bid to sign Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, according to a report in today's Le Parisien.
The French publication claims PSG are one of few clubs capable of matching Messi's £210m release clause.
Le Parisien believe that Laurent Blanc’s men are one of few clubs that are capable of paying Messi’s release clause of €250m, and will go for the Argentina international.
The paper notes that the Blaugrana forward is unhappy with Javier Faus’ comments about his contract renewal, has issues with the Spanish tax authorities and is uncertain about the arrival of superstar Neymar.
PSG’s insistence on holding on to Thiago Silva this summer, despite the departure of Carlo Ancelotti as Coach, is indicative of their ambition
Furthermore, PSG do not feel that Messi would be incompatible with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, despite difficult relations during the Swede’s spell at Barcelona.
Le Parisien points out that, since leaving the Catalan club, Ibrahimovic has repeatedly spoken of Messi as the best in the world and has stressed that his differences were not with the Argentine, but with former Blaugrana boss Pep Guardiola.
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| Lionel Messi ©telegraph.co.uk |
Messi recently spoke out against one of Barcelona's directors who questioned whether the multiple Ballon d'Or winner should be offered a pay rise.
That’s what Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain are hoping to achieve, according to local daily Le Parisien.
“Several sources at PSG quietly admit they are working on a bid for Messi, having failed to lure Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo,” the French newspaper said on Friday.
Messi’s contract with the Blaugrana expires in 2018, but rumours that the Argentinian forward is growing restless in Barcelona have gained traction in recent weeks.
The four-time Ballon d’or winner is currently fighting allegations of tax fraud in Spain and was involved in a rare public spat with a Barcelona manager last week.
According to Le Parisien, the hugely wealthy PSG is one of only a handful of clubs with the financial might to bid for Messi, whose price tag stands at a whopping €250 million.
“Should the Barcelona forward really wish to leave, that price could be brought down to around €150 million,” says the Paris daily.
Messi may also be tempted by the prospect of playing alongside PSG’s current pool of star players, which includes Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani, fellow Argentinian Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Brazil’s Thiago Silva.
Still, this may all be a case of wishful thinking on the French daily’s party.
While Messi is currently in Argentina recovering from a hamstring injury, his father has stepped in to silence the rumours of a soured relationship with Barcelona, a club his son joined at the age of 13 and has played for ever since.
“Barca fans must know that Leo’s future is tied to the club. There is no dispute and this chapter must end right now,” Jorge Messi told Argentinian radio station Diario Ole last Sunday.
“Leo was brought up by the club and he loves the club. His commitment towards Barcelona and the fans goes further than what anyone could think,” Messi senior added.
