Lionel Messi’s future: meetings in Paris, mysteries in Barcelona and a horizon that is not clearly seen for now

the future of Lionel Messi it’s a huge unknown which once again keeps the world of football in suspense. As happened a couple of years ago when I was negotiating with the Barcelona the renewal of his contract that was not there, which led him to move a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower, now the best player on the planet is having conversations with the Paris Saint-Germain extend their stay beyond June this year. But in between, the alarms sound from Spain, this time with a strong version that indicates a face to face between George Messifather and representative of the Pulce, e Joanna Laportapresident of the catalan club.

What is true? Was there such a meeting? Can Leo dress again in Barcelona? Why don’t you finish making an agreement with PSG? Intrigues, relationships, rumors, information, interpretations, truths and lies of a triangle with a widespread panorama.

The mystery grows from week to week. And transcendents abound. From Catalonia, information has emerged about a rapprochement from Barça, something unprecedented since the relationship broke down with the departure of Rosario, in August 2021. In the Spanish institution they ensure without hesitation that the meeting between Messi Sr. and Laporta it existed and it was friendly . They say it was about ironing out the ridicule with an eye on a tribute party that in Barcelona they want to do to Leo.

It is neither more nor less than the tribute match that ever happened due to his abrupt departure. a pending account that Barcelona wants to achieve and which would be in 2024, the 125th anniversary of the club and with the work at the Camp Nou completed.

However, there are those who say that this hides Laporta’s intention to repatriate Messi. It’s possible? There are winks that can feed the illusion of Catalan fans, such as the close friendship that Xavi maintains with his former teammate.

The Blaugrana coach has in fact declared in the last few hours: “For Leo this is his home and his doors are open, so I can’t say more. He is a friend, we are in permanent contact, we talk about many things and nothing else; it will depend a lot on him, on what he wants to do in his future, what also suits the club, but it is clear that this is his home.

And it’s true, Barcelona is Leo’s home. The club and the city. It would not need any adaptation, a very positive point. And, from a sporting point of view, despite the recent elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Manchester United, the team presents an interesting scenario for the future, very different from Ronald Koeman’s frustrating phase. Obviously all this sweetness is suddenly interrupted when you look at the bitter part of reality, which makes your return a chimera: the economy.

Barcelona exceeds its salary cap. And matching Messi’s salary would be impossible with his current squad numbers. Moreover, Javier Thebespresident of LaLiga, is rigid in this sense and, moreover, doesn’t exactly have a good relationship with Laporta.

Around Messi neither confirm nor deny the meeting between his father and the president of Barca. But in the meantime one thing is clear: The only current and concrete negotiation that the captain of the Argentine team, world champion in Qatar 2022, has on the table today is that of PSG.

Face-to-face meetings have already taken place between Jorge Messi and the sports secretary of Paris, the Portuguese Luis Campos. And new matches are expected after the return duel against Bayern Munich for the Champions League on Wednesday 8 March (the first leg was a 1-0 victory for the Germans at the Parco dei Principi).

Those talks are moving slowly. After the final won against France in Lusail, with Leo already resting in Rosario, there was talk of an agreement principle for the renewal of the ’30’. Why is its continuity not marked? Because the agreement is not total and there are differences that persist.

One of Messi’s concerns is the sports project for next season. And they say that from Paris they would not have been very convincing when speaking of the investment to be made with the future in mind. This is why the next meetings will be fundamental, in which the Qatari Nasser Al-Khelaifi, boss of the PSG, could also participate.

And if it’s not Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain, then what? This hypothetical scenario has not yet entered anyone’s head beyond the fact that in Paris some give it as a probable destination. The possibility of landing on the MLS Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, has lost power considerably. It is that Messi at 35 still feels at the top level and tries to play in a top league and, if possible, continue playing in the Champions League.

This is when the range of variants is drastically reduced. Another factor of weight is the family. The move to France was initially traumatic for her three children. But the guys, as well as his wife Antonela, are already fully adapted, comfortable and at ease in the French capital. To go through another similar process again and in such a short time is not the idea, a priori.

Where will Lionel play from July 2023? That’s the question. For now, the scenario does not have a horizon defined with the naked eye. And everything indicates that this intrigue will continue for a long time.