Lionel Messi Transfer Speculation

Blue wrote:Does anyone watch PSG play? Seems like such a waste for his talent to play on a team and league that very few gives a shit about.

People watch them play in the CL, which is the tournament that generates the most money and attracts the most eyeballs.

I watch ligue 1 with very little regularity these days, but I was a more avid follower of it in the past. I don't think the overall level of the league is very high, but I still believe it's an interesting league due to the individual talents that pop up in different clubs every now and then. Needless to say, I imagine the league would look very differently if the French clubs had managed to retain most of their star players beyond their youthful years.

I just think it's a moot discussion since we all know where the real football is being played. PSG signed Messi for the Champions League and Messi is joining PSG to compete in the Champions League.

Most leagues are top-heavy and ratings for matches not involving the top 4 teams facing each other have been falling off a cliff for years now. Nobody watches Ligue? sure, but the world isn't stopping to watch Barça play against Lolliga minions either.

^^exactly! and Messi's pull will definitely boost Ligue Un viewership, regardless of who PSG play

The problem with Ligue 1 is that the talent discrepancy between PSG and the other teams is so big.

At least in Italy when Juve dominated you had the other 4-5 big Italian clubs who had players you have heard of. Germany had Dortmund. Teams who had players people actually know.

I wouldn't even be able to name anyone who plays for Lille aside from Renato and their Turkish striker. Monaco was a fun team, but they've lost all their big names. PSG is the only marketable team there. Who is the biggest name who plays outside of PSG? Paqueta?

Ligue 1 is weaker, but Lille winning shows that not all that easy for PSG to win it every year. Messi joining and if PSG can keep everyone means they will be the biggest favourite for the CL I imagine, but just focus on it, playing B team during the CL runs if necessary

Imagine freaking Messi/Neymar/Mbappe/Di Maria... lool, reminds me of that Brazil 2006 team with Ronaldo/Adriano/Ronaldinho/Rivaldo. Obviously that team was unbalanced and failed, PSG will need to be better defensively but how can one not get excited about this PSG?

BREAKING: An agreement is close to being made between Lionel Messi and PSG. Messi wants to play for PSG and is closing to signing for the French club.

PSG has rented Waffel tower for 10th.

Things are progressing fast to a singularity.

PSG according to L'Equipe will pay Messi 1,6M per Week( 40M after Tax )

Rejected Neymar's offer to take #10.

Will take #19 it's reported.

Harmonica, genuine question, are you DonAK on barcaforum?

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Harmonica, genuine question, are you DonAK on barcaforum?

Nope, I left Iniestaforum like 7 years ago.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Harmonica, genuine question, are you DonAK on barcaforum?

They are both copied from twitter tbf.

If PSG don't win the CL this season, there's no hope for the Qatari's anymore.

While the rest of the football world is burning and scrambling for cash, these guys are assembling a squad for the ages.

Well the Champions league isn't a closed shop but the Arabs and the Prem teams are ensuring it eventually becomes one. Gotta love all that 'competition' coming our way.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Harmonica, genuine question, are you DonAK on barcaforum?

I'd like to see stats for these online Barça communities in the following months. Memberships and site visits dropping like flies I assume.

farfan wrote:

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Harmonica, genuine question, are you DonAK on barcaforum?

I'd like to see stats for these online Barça communities in the following months. Memberships and site visits dropping like flies I assume.

Believe me, they already have

They have already created a poll asking the members whether or not they will continue supporting the club if Messi leaves. 6 so far have voted no and 3 are still in hesitation:

https://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/19362-Will-you-continue-to-support-FC-Barcelona-after-Messi-s-departure

The forum is also full of posts threatening to jump ship if Messi leaves. I should stop reading, but I can't help it. The evil side of me still wants to go on

But in all seriousness, I never understood fans like that. I never understood how someone's love for their club can be predicated on some player staying or leaving.

Found this on Marca:

Khalid bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, who is the brother of the Emir who owns PSG, confirmed in a social media post that the negotiations with Messi were complete and an announcement would soon follow.

Negotiations are officially concluded. And announce later #Messi #Paris_Saint_Germain pic.twitter.com/BxlmCfARII

— خلـــيفة بـــن حمـــد آلــ ثانــــــي (@khm_althani) August 6, 2021

I don't know how reliable this guy is though. But being the brother of the guy who own PSG, I'm sure he must know a thing or two.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:But in all seriousness, I never understood fans like that. I never understood how someone's love for their club can be predicated on some player staying or leaving.

Some people don’t support a club but individual at the clubs, while some grew into the clubs because of an individual, while others it’s just an emotional reaction after hearing such a big news were it’s a state of shock, Barca forum will drop, but after awhile some fans will come around.

El Gunner wrote:^^exactly! and Messi's pull will definitely boost Ligue Un viewership, regardless of who PSG play

Viewership for PSG matches would boost, big time. The rest of Ligue 1 would remain more or less the same.

Leo Messi will acquire a 35% stake in Inter Miami, and will join the MLS club in the summer of 2023. The contract will be signed in August, and there is a total agreement between both parties.

— @Alex_candal pic.twitter.com/bZteMN9F3A

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) May 17, 2022

Good lad is coming to my birthplace. He will enjoy it in Miami. Huge Argentinian community there.

If he was a dictator before imagine now that he owns the club

Coachessi, Presidentessi, Dictadoressi.

So he'll come to my town for a few away games. That's crazy.  Can't wait to not go to the stadium and not meet him... it's only MLS after all

Can’t blame him, make that money.

Going for that Maradona Napoli feat.