Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Could Leave Manchester United on Free Transfer
Oct 22, 2022
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United walks off after the 0-0 draw during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on October 16, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly
received "no interest" from other clubs despite Manchester United
making him available for a free transfer to any side willing to take
on the remainder of his £500,000-a-week contract.
ESPN's Mark Ogden reported Saturday
that United, with support from the Glazer family ownership, has sought out potential suitors since the summer
transfer window, when Ronaldo expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford,
to no avail.
The update comes after United announced
Ronaldo would be left out of the matchday squad for Saturday's
Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after refusing to come on as a substitute during Wednesday's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
He then left the pitch prior to the final
whistle.
"We will miss him tomorrow," United manager Erik ten
Hag told reporters Friday. "It's a miss for the squad but it's
important for the attitude and mentality of the group and now we have
to focus on Chelsea as that is important. He remains an important
part of the squad."
Ronaldo, 37, has started just two of
United's 10 Premier League matches so far this season. He's recorded
two goals and one assist in 12 appearances (six starts) across all
competitions.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner posted
a statement Thursday on Instagram:
Ronaldo is expected to remain in a
headline role for Portugal at the men's FIFA World Cup next month despite
his limited club involvement, and United are hopeful his play in the
tournament can create more interest heading into January's winter
transfer window, per Ogden.
If a full transfer can't be found—Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is the only one to even make an inquiry
so far—it's also possible the forward could be loaned out at a
reduced rate for the rest of the term, according to Ogden.
Ronaldo's contract with United is set
to expire in June.
Meanwhile, a victory over the Blues on
Saturday would push the Red Devils into fourth place in the Premier
League table.
Lionel Messi Returning to Barcelona Is 'Impossible' Right Now, Says Xavi Hernandez
Jul 26, 2022
Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi reacts after his shoot during PSG's Japan Tour football match against Gamba Osaka at Suita stadium in Osaka on July 25, 2022. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) (Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said
Monday there's no chance Lionel Messi returns to the La Liga club from Paris
Saint-Germain ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Xavi described the idea of Messi coming
back to Camp Nou one year after his departure as "impossible" at
the moment because of his PSG contract, but he admitted that outlook could
change in the future.
"It doesn't make sense to speak
about Messi. He is the best player in the world and the best ever," Xavi told reporters. "The president has already said that he hopes
Messi's story has not finished with Barcelona. We will see in the
future, but it's not the moment to speak about Leo, it's the moment
to talk about the exciting players we have here."
Messi was expected to remain at
Barcelona last summer, and the sides even reached an agreement on a
contract extension to keep him with the club, but Barca announced last August the deal couldn't be finalized because of
La Liga's "regulations on player registration."
Less than a week later he joined PSG.
French outlet L'Equipe reported (via AS' Andres Onrubia) that the
legendary forward signed a two-year contract with an option for a
third season at the Parc des Princes worth up to $129 million.
Joan Laporta returned to the role of
Barcelona president in March 2021 after running a campaign heavily
focused on Messi's future. He previously held the position from 2003
through 2010, the period when the Argentine superstar began to emerge as one
of the best players in history.
"I am sure that if someone else
wins the election [other than me], Messi won't stay at the club,"
Laporta said during a debate before last year's election. "I
have a good relationship with him; there's a lot of respect."
His return to the presidential post
wasn't enough to secure Messi's future at Camp Nou, but he told ESPN on Sunday
there's still hope for a storybook ending.
"I would hope that the Messi
chapter isn't over," Laporta said. "I think it's our
responsibility to try to ... find a moment to fix that chapter, which
is still open and hasn't closed, so it turns out like it should have,
and that it has a more beautiful ending."
The 35-year-old playmaker didn't quite
live up to his usual standard in his first season with PSG—his 11
goals across all competitions marked his lowest total since 2005-06—but he still compiled a productive six goals and 14 assists in 26 Ligue 1
appearances.
He'll once again help headline one of
the world's most star-studded attacks this season alongside Neymar
and Kylian Mbappe for the Parisians.
It sounds like Barcelona will be
heavily involved if Messi decides to decline the option in his Paris
Saint-Germain contract next summer, though.
Albert Masnou of Diario Sport reported on Sunday that Xavi, Messi's former Barca teammate, has asked
Laporta to sign the forward back in 2023 under the belief his return would "bring a lot to the club both on an economic level and a sporting
one."
All told, whether the potential return happens
next summer or a little further down the line, it would be a surprise
if Messi's swan song doesn't take place with Barca.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Reportedly Offered to Chelsea amid Transfer Rumors
Jul 4, 2022
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Switzerland, at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Chelsea have been offered the opportunity to acquire both Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain, according to Alasdair Mackenzie of Eurosport.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reported Chelsea are "considering a move" for Ronaldo, who missed his scheduled return to training Monday. Last month, the leader of the club's new ownership group, Todd Boehly, met with Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes.
Football Daily broke down the options for Ronaldo that also include Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain:
🤔 Cristiano Ronaldo's agents have held talks with Chelsea and Bayern Munich over a possible transfer pic.twitter.com/iV90SbWx07
PSG are also ready to sell Neymar, who is open to a move to the Premier League for the first time.
Julien Laurens of ESPN previously reported that "contact has been made" between Chelsea and PSG about a potential transfer for the winger.
Both players come with high price tags, while manager Thomas Tuchel is reportedly "wary of bringing in a big-name player who could disrupt his team chemistry," per Mackenzie.
Last year's addition of Romelu Lukaku went poorly, and he went back to Inter Milan on loan after just one season.
Chelsea could use more offensive firepower after finishing third in the Premier League, well off the pace by Manchester City and Liverpool. The Blues scored 23 fewer goals than City, while Mason Mount's 11 goals led the club in league play.
Ronaldo scored 18 goals with Manchester United last season on the way to earning PFA Team of the Year honors. It came after scoring 81 goals in Serie A over the previous three years with Juventus.
The 37-year-old has won the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or five times each and could be a huge addition in the attack.
Neymar, 30, has also starred with PSG and Barcelona, winning league titles in six of the last eight years. He finished last season with 13 goals and six assists in 22 Ligue 1 matches.
With Chelsea looking to make a splash under new ownership, either of these players could be a big-time addition in the transfer window.
Paul Pogba's Manchester United Departure Confirmed amid Juventus Rumors
Jun 1, 2022
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on April 16, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United announced Wednesday
midfielder Paul Pogba will leave the club when his contract expires
at the end of June.
Pogba, who started his senior career
with United in 2011, returned to Old Trafford in 2016 after a
four-year stint with Juventus. He recorded one goal and nine assists
across 20 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils this season.
"Everyone at the club would like to
congratulate Paul on his successful career, and thank him for his
contributions to Manchester United," the club wrote in a statement. "We wish him all the best for the next steps on a remarkable
journey."
OFFICIAL: Manchester United confirm Paul Pogba will leave the club as a free agent for the second time pic.twitter.com/3YnSRh4PXU
James Westwood of Goal reported Juve is "leading the race" to sign the 29-year-old French international
once again, though Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also
involved.
Pogba hinted at his frustration while
playing for France in March, telling Telefoot (via ESPN) United's failure to contend for trophies led to "difficult times."
"I want to win titles, I want to
play for something," he said. "Whether it be this year or even
the previous ones, we haven't won anything. That's what's sad, in the
end."
United fell well short of competing for
a title in 2021-22. It finished sixth in the Premier League and
failed to make a deep run in any knockout tournament—the UEFA Champions
League (round of 16), FA Cup (fourth round) or EFL Cup (third round).
It's likely to cause several squad
changes over the summer as the Red Devils prepare to begin a new era
under manager Erik ten Hag, who arrives from Ajax.
With Pogba's departure confirmed,
United has opened discussions with Barcelona about fellow midfielder
Frenkie de Jong, per Sky Sports' Dan Sansom.
De Jong tallied three goals and three
assists in 32 La Liga matches for Barca this season.
Meanwhile, the interest from three
high-profile clubs like Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
shows belief Pogba can reignite his career with a transfer.
The playmaking midfielder has still
shown glimpses of being a high-impact performer during his stints
with the French national team, but those kinds of performances were few and far between with
United.
If he does land with a marquee club,
he'll likely need to showcase more consistent top form to remain a
regular first-team selection in 2022-23.
Transfer Deadline Day 2022: Tracking Biggest Deals on Final Day of January Window
Jan 31, 2022
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at the Camp des Loges Paris Saint-Germain football club's training ground in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on January 30, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
It's the final day of the January transfer window, which means the rumors and news reports are coming in hot and furious.
Below, we'll track the biggest developing stories around Europe as Monday progresses.
Aubameyang Reportedly Headed to Barcelona on a Free
One of the storylines of Arsenal's season has been the fallout with former team captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Now, per multiple reports, the striker's time in north London is coming to a close and he'll be headed to Barcelona on a free transfer:
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Barcelona have verbal agreement with Arsenal (subject to contract) to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on 6 months + 1 year deal that, if completed, will bring his #AFC career to an end. Medical to take place tonight @TheAthleticUK #FCBarcelonahttps://t.co/4wXWdGSNB8
Aubameyang set to join Barcelona on a free transfer. Unlikely to be fee involved as Arsenal will make huge saving on his £350,000-a-week wages. Barcelona will fund the whole package. May not be announced until late on. Note @MirrorFootball
Don't know the financial details yet but, by my quick maths, Arsenal will be saving close to £20m in wages by transferring Aubameyang to Barcelona. A transfer fee would obviously have been ideal but it was never going to happen in the circumstances.
While supporters tired of the saga surrounding the 32-year-old will be glad to see him go and his wages off the books, Arsenal's failure to add reinforcements at his position will raise more than few eyebrows.
The Gunners' lone move Monday was adding defender Auston Trusty, who will join in the summer:
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Auston Trusty is set to join @Arsenal this summer.
From your entire #Rapids96 family, congratulations @austheboss3!
That's right—one of the best players in the world reportedly will leave PSG on a free. If the Parisians don't win the Champions League title this season, it has the potential to go down as one of the worst pieces of business in football history after Real Madrid reportedly offered PSG $208 million for the player before the season.
Now, Los Blancos appear set to get the player without dipping into their war chest.
Juventus Keep Making Moves; Tottenham Swap Midfielders
The Italian giants are having a huge window, having already landed exciting young forward Dusan Vlahovic.
But Juventus continued its roster reshape Monday, bringing in midfielder Denis Zakaria while allowing attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey to leave on loan to Rangers, per journalist Fabrizio Romano:
Official and confirmed. Denis Zakaria joins Juventus on a permanent move from Borussia Moenchengladbach. €5m plus €3m add ons fee. Contracts sealed and signed. 🤝⚪️⚫️ #DeadlineDay
Borussia Moenchengladbach confirm the deal with an official statement.
Aaron Ramsey from Juventus to Rangers, done deal and here we go! Agreement on loan with buy option. Ramsey will sign in the coming hours. 🏴🤝 #Rangers
Ramsey wasn't the only departure for Juve on Monday, as midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur signed with Tottenham on a permanent deal and Dejan Kulusevski was allowed to join Spurs on loan with the option to buy:
Official and confirmed. Rodrigo Bentancur joins Tottenham on a permanent deal, statement confirms. ⚪️🤝 #THFC
Juventus will receive €19m plus €6m add ons, as previously reported here. Boca Juniors will receive 30% of this deal.
To cover for those moves, Tottenham allowed Tanguy Ndombele to return to Lyon on loan with an option to buy, and polarizing midfielder Dele Alli is reportedly heading to Everton to link up with new manager Frank Lampard:
Dele Alli move to Everton from Tottenham agreed. Set to be an initial free transfer with Everton paying £10m once he has played 20 games. Two and a half year deal #efc#thfc
It was a busy day in Turin and north London—and justifiably so. Juventus is fifth in Serie A, 11 points off leaders Inter Milan but just a point behind fourth-place Atalanta. Reworking its roster as its fight for a Champions League berth is key.
Tottenham, meanwhile, find itself seventh in the Premier League but just two points off Manchester United in fourth and with two games in hand. Spurs smartly have made big changes to the roster for Antonio Conte as he looks to propel the team to the Champions League.
Julian Alvarez Signs with Man City, Will Join in the Summer
Manchester City officially landed its latest forward:
We are delighted to confirm that we have completed the signing of Julian Alvarez from River Plate ✍️
Alvarez, 22, can play as either a central striker or a winger, giving him the sort of versatility that Pep Guardiola prefers. In 2021, he scored 20 goals for River Plate in 35 Argentine Primera Division appearances while winning the league title.
Other Signings and Reports of Note
Official and confirmed. Donny van de Beek joins Everton from Man United on loan: “I had a really positive meeting with the new coach. We have the same ideas about football and he had a lot of influence on my decision”. 🔵🤝 #EFC pic.twitter.com/IhiiPUgPhc
The January transfer window officially closes for most European leagues on Monday night. The windows for the Premier League and La Liga each close at 6 p.m. ET.
Report: Manchester City Won't Sign Cristiano Ronaldo amid Man United Transfer Rumours
Aug 27, 2021
UDINE, ITALY - AUGUST 22: Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio v Juventus at Dacia Arena on August 22, 2021 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
Manchester City has reportedly pulled out of the race to land superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo in a transfer from Juventus.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City has made it clear that it is no longer in on Ronaldo, and it never agreed to terms with Ronaldo or on a transfer fee with Juventus.
Romano also reported that Premier League rival Manchester United is now preparing an offer for Ronaldo, and the club is "confident" it will be able to land him.
News of Manchester City dropping out and Manchester United swooping in comes one day after Goncalo Lopes of the Daily Mail reported that Man City and Juventus had come to terms on an agreement involving Ronaldo.
It was also reported by Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sports Italy on Thursday that Ronaldo was hoping to be moved by Juventus prior to Tuesday's transfer deadline:
🔹 Man City want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for free 🔹 Juventus asking for around €25m 🔹 Ronaldo keen to leave Juventus before deadline 🔹 No other club in position to make the move @DiMarzio has the latest from Italy on Cristiano Ronaldo's futurepic.twitter.com/vJH4cywe1E
Di Marzio mentioned Manchester City as the only club positioned to secure Ronaldo, but he noted that Man City wanted to get Ronaldo for free, while Juventus was asking for a €25 million transfer fee.
Rumors of a Ronaldo transfer heated up Sunday when he came off the bench in the 60th minute of Juventus' 2-2 draw with Udinese rather than starting the match.
After the match, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri said it was his own decision to bring Ronaldo on from the bench: "Ronaldo is feeling well. I had talked to him before the game, telling him he would start on the bench. He made himself available, he did well when he entered the pitch."
Juventus vice president Pavel Nedved later said it was a "shared" decision between Ronaldo and Allegri, and he said he could "absolutely confirm" Ronaldo would remain with Juve throughout the season.
If Ronaldo does land with Manchester United, it will mark a return to the club with which he first achieved stardom.
After spending one season in the senior ranks with Sporting CP in his home country of Portugal, Ronaldo arrived at Manchester United in 2003 and spent six seasons with the club. He scored 118 goals across all competitions in 292 matches and 84 goals in 194 EPL matches.
Ronaldo also helped lead Manchester United to three EPL titles and one UEFA Champions League title.
After that, Ronaldo reached even greater heights in nine seasons with Real Madrid and has spent the past three seasons with Juventus.
All told, the 36-year-old has 674 goals across all competitions in 897 career matches, making him one of the most prolific goal scorers of all time.
Securing Ronaldo would go a long way toward helping Manchester United win its first EPL title since 2013.
Kylian Mbappe Transfer Rumours: Real Madrid Increases Bid to $200M for PSG Star
Aug 26, 2021
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 19: Kylian Mbappe looks on during a Paris Saint-Germain training session at Ooredoo Center on August 19, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier - PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
Real Madrid has increased its offer to €170 million ($200 million) for Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, according to Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol.
Real Madrid have made a second bid of €170M/$200M for Kylian Mbappe, reports @SkyKaveh
In an interview with French media outlet RMC (h/t ESPN FC's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez), PSG sporting director Leonardo conceded the French forward is looking to depart but added any transfer "will be done under our conditions."
Mbappe is entering the final year of his contract, which is raising questions for both sides of the potential transfer.
A €170 million fee is a steep price to pay—even for a talent as good as Mbappe—when the 22-year-old can be signed on a free transfer next summer. That's also a lot of money for PSG to turn down given his contract status and apparent reluctance to sign an extension.
Some are also wondering how Real Madrid could facilitate such a massive deal given its financial situation.
Club president Florentino Perez cautioned in April that Madrid and other major European powers would be "dead" by 2024 without the monetary boost the since-abandoned Super League was going to provide.
Madrid did, however, announce a net profit of €874,000 from the 2020-21 season despite the strain the COVID-19 pandemic placed on it and clubs around the world. Los Blancos have subsequently padded their coffers with the sales of Raphael Varane (€41 million) and Martin Odegaard (€35 million).
The Athletic's Adam Crafton reported Real Madrid officials have been pooling a "Mbappe fund" through player sales dating back more than a year. Loaning out Odegaard, Gareth Bale and Luka Jovic allowed the club to stash money for a marquee transfer as well.
Still, the transfer fee alone wouldn't represent the entirety of the outlay required to sign Mbappe right now.
It would be kinda hilarious if #PSG accept #RealMadrid's offer for Mbappé. The fee alone would be north of €160m and then there is the salary, which would be another €400m before taxes. Real don't really have that money but I guess are to big to fail...
The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has allowed Karim Benzema to shine to an even larger degree at the Santiago Bernabeu. Benzema totaled 65 goals in La Liga in the first three seasons following Ronaldo's move to Juventus.
But the 13-time European champions haven't found a true replacement for the Portuguese star, both in terms of his impact on the pitch and the commercial value he provided. Mbappe would unquestionably address both concerns.
There isn't any indication Paris Saint-Germain is willing to let the 2018 World Cup champion leave this summer, but Real Madrid is doing everything it can to test Leonardo's resolve.
Kylian Mbappe Wants to Leave amid Real Madrid Transfer Rumours, Says PSG Director
Aug 25, 2021
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe warms up prior to the French L1 football match between Stade Brestois and Paris Saint-Germain at Francis-Le Ble Stadium in Brest on August 20, 2021. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo confirmed Wednesday that star forward Kylian Mbappe wants to leave PSG.
Speaking to RMC (h/t Get French Football News), Leonardo said: "Kylian Mbappe wants to leave, that seems clear. ... If he wants to leave, we will not stop him, but on our terms."
It was previously reported by Adam Crafton of The Athletic that PSG had rejected a €160 million ($188 million) bid from Real Madrid for Mbappe.
Although the initial bid was rejected, L'Equipe (h/t AS) that PSG would consider an offer of €200 million ($235 million) from Real Madrid.
Leonardo confirmed PSG rejected Real Madrid's first offer, and while the expectation is that Real Madrid will improve its offer before next Tuesday's deadline, the sporting director said he does not "plan to speak again" with Los Blancos, per RMC Sport (h/t Alex Young of the Evening Standard).
Mbappe's contract is set to expire next summer, meaning he could leave without PSG receiving any compensation. That is likely why the Ligue 1 side is showing a willingness to move Mbappe if the right offer is made.
Leonardo expressed his belief that Real Madrid is posturing to land Mbappe on a free transfer next summer, saying:
"In terms of our position on Real, it seems like a strategy to try to get a 'no' from us, to show that they have tried everything and to wait for a year to get him for free. For the last two years, Real Madrid have been behaving like this, it is not correct, illegal even because they contacted the player.
"They want us to reject to show to Kylian that they tried everything and to start negotiating for next year."
He added that PSG have made Mbappe two "significant offers" to stay and that Real's first offer was "very far" from what the club believes Mbappe is worth.
While PSG would likely prefer Mbappe to sign a contract extension,
ESPN's Julien Laurens and Rodrigo Faez reported Tuesday that the 22-year-old star has "made it clear" he has no intention of signing a new deal.
Mbappe is arguably the best young player in the world and is into his fifth season at PSG after starting his professional career with Monaco.
The Frenchman has one goal through three Ligue 1 matches this season after scoring 30 or more goals across all competitions in each of the previous three seasons.
Last season was Mbappe's best, as he scored 42 goals in all competitions in 47 matches, including 27 goals in 31 Ligue 1 matches.
Mbappe has twice been named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and he won the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player award in 2018 when France won its second World Cup title.
Prior to the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season, PSG made one of the biggest signings in its history by landing Lionel Messi on a free transfer from Barcelona.
Messi had agreed to a contract extension with Barca, but when they were unable to execute the deal due to financial issues, PSG swooped in and signed the all-time great.
PSG now boast one of the most electric attacking trios in soccer history with Messi, Mbappe and Neymar, but if PSG get an improved offer, Mbappe may not be in Paris for much longer.
Lionel Messi Rumours: Lawyers for Barcelona Members Trying to Block PSG Contract
Aug 9, 2021
FILE - In this Jan.14, 2018 file photo FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi kicks the ball and scores the fourth goal of his team against Real Sociedad during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad, at Anoeta stadium, in San Sebastian, northern Spain. Barcelona announced Thursday Aug. 5, 2021 that Lionel Messi will not stay with the club. He is leaving after 17 successful seasons in which he propelled the Catalan club to glory, helping it win numerous domestic and international titles since debuting as a teenager. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos, File)
Paris Saint-Germain appear set to sign Lionel Messi, but Barcelona supporters apparently won't let him leave without a fight.
According to Sky Sports News, lawyers representing Barcelona members have filed a complaint to the European Commission and the European Court of Appeals to try to block PSG from signing the six-time Ballon d'Or winner:
A group of lawyers representing Barcelona’s members filed a complaint to the European Commission in an attempt to block PSG from signing Lionel Messi 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/M1GjKACq6n
The lawyers argue the signing would "violate fair-play rules" because PSG is in a worse financial situation than Barcelona, which couldn't fit Messi's contract into its wage limit.
Barcelona announced on Thursday that the two sides would be parting ways after 21 years because of La Liga restrictions. According to Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN, Messi has agreed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain with an option for a third season.
The 34-year-old clarified at his farewell press conference Sunday that nothing was finalized with a new team.
"[PSG] is one possibility," Messi said. "There's nothing closed at the moment, but we're talking about a lot of things. After Barca's statement, a lot of clubs showed an interest. There's nothing final. But, of course, there are talks."
While it's true both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain operate with high wage bills, the difference is the cap placed upon Barca from La Liga.
La Liga President Javier Tebas warned Barcelona in June that it wouldn't be able to re-sign Messi without making cuts elsewhere. The club made a few smaller sales, but it also added to the wage bill with the additions of Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia.
PSG plays in Ligue 1, providing more flexibility to add Messi alongside other top players like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and new signings Sergio Ramos and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Messi's arrival would make PSG a favorite to win the UEFA Champions League, providing Barcelona supporters with further incentive to try to block the move through the legal system.
