It will certainly never be known, of course, but it is unlikely that the Emir of Qatar waited for him on December 28, at midnight, to watch on TV Lionel Messi’s interview with Jordi Evole. in La Sexta just like many of us. But the owner of Paris Saint-Germain will undoubtedly find out what the Argentine told the world in that long-awaited conversation.
Ever since he bought the French club in the summer of 2011, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has always had a dream: to bring Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi to the Parc des Princes. He tried many times, but it never materialized. However, he knows that, on this occasion, Messi’s mind is much more open, and the desire and determination to come up with a plan to try to bring him to Paris are present.
The Barcelona captain has not yet decided what to do in the summer. He will be able to leave the Camp Nou in exchange for something different from last summer, when he tried to force his way out, despite the fact that he remained under contract. This time, things will be different.
Will he really end this 20-year adventure with the city and the club that gave him everything? Some believe that because of the chaos that has reigned in the club in recent years, the series of poor results and the lack of direction, he will definitely want to leave. Others trust the idea that deep down he wants to stay and finish his incredible career in Barcelona and, if he is convinced that the conditions are right (the new president, a better team, Xavi involved in a way …) made more hits, he will stay.
But if Messi leaves, will PSG really go after him in the summer? Of course. Is it probable or realistic? We will see. The priority in Paris is to extend the contracts of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé as both expire in June 2022, and the new long-term contracts for the two strikers will involve the continuity of building a highly competitive team around them, as well as ensuring their values if I want to leave in the future.
Sources told ESPN that recent talks with the averages of both players have been positive and there is no doubt confidence in the club regarding the signing of contract extensions. “They want to stay,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said a month ago. Negotiations will continue this month, according to sources, and now, when Mauricio Pochettino is in charge, the team hopes that the direction that the Argentine coach gives to the club will convince Neymar and Mbappé to continue in the French capital.
Even if the two superstars would like to leave and not extend their contracts, who could buy them this summer? Barcelona have no money to add the Brazilian, while neither Real Madrid nor Liverpool seem to have the financial package to sign Mbappé. They all suffered the blow of the coronavirus pandemic and from a financial point of view, it would be very difficult for any club to invest 250 million euros in total (transfer, salaries and commissions) for Mbappé.
Therefore, suppose Neymar and Mbappé remain in Paris. Here is the problem with Messi.
The way you look at it, thinking about the club’s overall budget at its salary, its current contracts with sponsors, taxes, fair financial regulations, the loss of profits due to the pandemic and the fall of the agreement For domestic television rights in the League 1, it seems impossible for PSG to have money to have Neymar, Mbappé and Messi together. Leaving aside how incredible this trio could be, it is very difficult to see how they can be financed.
According to Football Leaks, Neymar earns EUR 36.8 million per year (net), Mbappé is at EUR 11.3 million gross and Messi at EUR 50 million net! An astronomical figure of salaries per year just for them, and this without taking into account the potential increases that Neymar and Mbappé (especially the Frenchman) could receive if or when they sign the new contracts. There is a possibility that Messi will accept a reduction in his salary, but it should be a reduction of a huge and perhaps even irresponsible amount of money.
This season, PSG’s salary is EUR 337 million, the third largest in Europe behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, for a total budget of EUR 637.8 million. the club should massively increase its earnings in order to be able to recruit the Argentine, while respecting the parameters of the financial Fair Play. And no, the sale of hundreds of thousands of Messi T-shirts could not cover him – not even close!
But Paris will try anyway. Last summer they were in contact with Messi’s father and are trying to draw up a plan. There are people on the team who believe that Pochettino’s appointment could help clarify the negotiations with Messi, Mbappé and Neymar. Everyone knows who the coach will be in the summer, and PSG sees in “Poch” a great resource (no doubt more than Thomas Tuchel) when we talk about convincing Messi to move to the French capital instead of staying in Barcelona or go at a meeting with Pep Guardiola in Manchester City.
Convincing him will not be an easy task, of course, but the hardest of all will be finding the money. That could be an impossible mission.