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    LaLiga News: Messi leaves Barcelona: PSG, City or MLS? Potential destinations for the Argentine superstar

    So now we know: Lionel Messi leaves Barcelona.

    After pushing hard to force an exit a year ago, the Argentine superstar looked set to commit his long-term future to the Spanish club by signing a new contract this offseason.

    However, his days at Camp Nou now appear to be over due to “economic and structural obstacles”, despite reportedly agreeing to cut his salary by 50%. Put simply, the dire financial situation means that Barça cannot keep its precious asset.

    Unless there’s another dramatic twist in the saga (and we certainly shouldn’t rule it out yet), Messi has to find a new home.

    So where could the six-time winner of the Ballon d’Or go? The list of options appears to be short, albeit varied.

    Hello, Paris!

    Paris Saint-Germain are among the first to lead this unexpected race, and rightly so. Thanks to owners Qatar Sports Investments, the Ligue 1 squad has the financial backing to make Messi a tempting offer, plus it would give him a chance at Champions League glory once again – they were beaten to finalists in 2020, then eliminated in the last few. four the following season.

    There is compatriot Mauricio Pochettino, as well as international teammates Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria. When you add another familiar face to former Barça colleague Neymar, it suddenly seems like a comfortable and obvious choice. Such a signature could also help Kylian Mbappe sign a new contract, or at least make it much more palatable to consider cashing in on the Frenchman before his deal expires.

    Pep’s reunion tour

    A year ago, when Messi got us looking for exactly what a burofax is, Manchester City appeared the likely landing spot. A once rock solid relationship with Barça appeared in tatters, amid discontent with what was happening both on and off the pitch. Moving to England would finally respond to the old line of “Yes, but can you do it on a rainy Tuesday in? [insert team here]? ‘, as well as reuniting him with Pep Guardiola, the coach who twice led Barça to Champions League glory.

    However, City appear to have moved on since losing Messi. Not long after Barça’s statement was released, the Premier League champions confirmed Jack Grealish’s signing for £ 100 million. Harry Kane has also been heavily attached to them, and the England captain won’t be cheap (surely if Tottenham president Daniel Levy has anything to do with that). Even with City, there is a limit to how much you can spend.

    Made in Chelsea

    So, how about Messi moving into the Premier League anyway, but not just the club everyone once expected? Chelsea haven’t been mentioned too much as a possible destination, neither last year nor now, but they have the resources and seem eager to add to their offensive options, considering the rumors of moves for Erling Haaland and, more recently, Romelu Lukaku. Unlike that duo, Messi isn’t tied up and available at all (at least in terms of the transfer fee).

    However, these connections with central forwards suggest that manager Thomas Tuchel and the Chelsea hierarchy have some idea of ​​what they want to add to the squad – and it may not be a 34-year-old who would require a rethink of the entire squad structure. While Messi would undoubtedly improve the Blues, it seems unlikely that West London will welcome him into the neighborhood.

    ML-YES!

    Could Messi be ready to embark on the well-trodden path from Europe to the United States? MLS appeared to be a viable option for him at some point in his playing days – he even said so himself in an interview with La Sexta in December 2020: “I’d love to play in the US someday, it always has been. one of my dreams … but I don’t know if it will happen! ” Well, that dream could now come true, with the competition having a history of attracting big names in the twilight stages of their careers.

    David Beckham did just that, and is now heavily involved with Inter Miami, possibly the MLS option for Messi. New York and Los Angeles could be considered, with the possibility for a global superstar to take the plunge into a major market. In truth, however, it seems that this idea could materialize later, rather than in the next few weeks.

    No place is like home …

    While at Barcelona since his teens, passing through the famous La Masia youth school, Messi started with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. A return to his hometown of Rosario would be a wonderful way to end his illustrious gaming days. However, having scored 30 goals in 35 La Liga games last season, he still shows no sign that his ridiculously high standards are still slipping.

    Diego Maradona had a short spell there, with Messi unveiling Newell’s number 10 jersey after scoring against Osasuna to pay homage to the Argentine legend, who passed away in November 2020. However, after finally securing a first international trophy with the national team, by winning this year’s Copa America on Brazilian soil, a return to origins seems unlikely.

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