Barcelona have released an official statement confirming that Lionel Messi will no longer be continuing with the club. With the Argentinian now a free agent in the truest sense of the phrase, here are the most probable destinations for Messi.
Manchester City
Despite spending £100 million on Jack Grealish, Pep Guardiola is still looking for a replacement for Sergio Aguero. While Harry Kane was the target prior to the Messi announcement, the Spaniard will surely want his former apprentice to link up with him at the Etihad. What’s more, the Premier League champions can actually afford to pay his wages.
So, Man City’s Aguero replacement could be his Argentina teammate, and arguably the greatest footballer ever. And it is a realistic option considering all the variables.
Paris Saint-Germain
Gini Wijnaldum, Gigio Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, and now Lionel Messi? PSG have completed unbelievable deals this summer, all for free, and could have the greatest player of all time for the same as well.
We could be seeing a long-awaited reunion for Messi with Neymar, and a chance for the Ligue 1 club to become the most featured lineup of all time.
Newell’s Old Boys
Messi has been vocal about the fact that he would like to return to Argentina to play for Newell’s, his club prior to Barcelona. He could pull the trigger to exit Europe now, but considering he was about to sign a five-year deal with Barcelona, maybe he hasn’t given up on the Champions League just yet. But, we can never say never in football.
One of the key factors in the next destination for Messi will surely be the financial aspect. Barcelona’s monetary downfall was one of the primary reasons why they couldn’t get Messi to sign a new deal. So, clubs that are well-off in this market and have a history of spending massively on players can all be considered possible destinations.
