That Little Genius…

[aeropilot]

He's finally broken Pele's "one club goal scoring record" that has stood for over 45 years.......that many thought would never be broken.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

aeropilot said:

He's finally broken Pele's "one club goal scoring record" that has stood for over 45 years.......that many thought would never be broken.

I have no idea, but it'd be interesting to know whether Messi played more (or fewer) games than Pele.

[BlackLabel]

Someone has leaked details of Messi’s Barcelona contract to the press.

“ Barcelona say they will take "appropriate legal action" against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details of forward Lionel Messi's £492m contract.

Barcelona denied "any responsibility for the publication of this document".

According to El Mundo, Messi's four-year contract was worth a possible 555,237,619 euros until 30 June, 2021.

It means the 33-year-old would be receiving up to £123m a season.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55873590

Edited by BlackLabel on Sunday 31st January 16:47

[trackdemon]

And?

[Groat]

Ibra and Ronnie's agents will have been getting calls today

[extraT]

Jeeeez. That is ridiculous. How do football clubs manage to work their finances, even with all the sponships in the world, how is this financially viable for a club? The leak will reignite wage caps again... perhaps rightfully so...?

[BlackLabel]

trackdemon said:

And?

Football salaries (and transfer fees) are an interesting subject IMO. Especially in the current times when so many clubs are struggling with massive levels of debt.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are ~€1 billion in debt.

[aeropilot]

No wonder Barca are in deep financial do-do.......

He's going to have to take a huge wage drop if he leaves in the summer to go anywhere, no other team is going to stump up that sort of cash at his age.....

[trackdemon]

BlackLabel said:

trackdemon said:

And?

Football salaries (and transfer fees) are an interesting subject IMO. Especially in the current times when so many clubs are struggling with massive levels of debt.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are ~€1 billion in debt.

Debt in itself isn't a problem, the pandemic induced lack of revenue (to service that debt) is. That (hopefully!) is a temporary situation that's hit every club in the world. Creditors know that.

[ChocolateFrog]

Judging by the article the rumours of how much he's on were pretty much spot on, so there's no surprises.

It's just a bit shocking when you actually see it in black and white.

[Challo]

trackdemon said:

BlackLabel said:

trackdemon said:

And?

Football salaries (and transfer fees) are an interesting subject IMO. Especially in the current times when so many clubs are struggling with massive levels of debt.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are ~€1 billion in debt.

Debt in itself isn't a problem, the pandemic induced lack of revenue (to service that debt) is. That (hopefully!) is a temporary situation that's hit every club in the world. Creditors know that.

From reading reports, Barca could service that debt previously before the pandemic, but with no fans, no museum revenue they are in serious trouble.

They had player’s take a pay cut before, but apparently talks have not been successful. Plus looking at Messi’s contract it’s a huge millstone round their neck.

[franki68]

extraT said:

Jeeeez. That is ridiculous. How do football clubs manage to work their finances, even with all the sponships in the world, how is this financially viable for a club? The leak will reignite wage caps again... perhaps rightfully so...?

They don’t ,there’s been articles about how his package has affected Barca ,they have laid back room staff off etc .

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

franki68 said:

extraT said:

Jeeeez. That is ridiculous. How do football clubs manage to work their finances, even with all the sponships in the world, how is this financially viable for a club? The leak will reignite wage caps again... perhaps rightfully so...?

They don’t ,there’s been articles about how his package has affected Barca ,they have laid back room staff off etc .

Maybe I'm too soft, but if I knew that people had lost jobs because I was earning over 2 million Euros per week I'd happily take a pay cut to keep people in their jobs. I'm sure he could survive pretty happily on 1.5 million Euros per week

[The jiffle king]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Maybe I'm too soft, but if I knew that people had lost jobs because I was earning over 2 million Euros per week I'd happily take a pay cut to keep people in their jobs. I'm sure he could survive pretty happily on 1.5 million Euros per week

Happy with a mere 1.5M euros per week? barely enough to pay his butler and puts him at the edge of poverty in PH terms. Its only 149 euro per minute whether he is sleeping, playing or going to the toilet. I'm very surprised that you have the temerity to suggest he could afford a cut from 198 euro every waking minute to 149. Given they have 3 children Messi should be given a raise surely?

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

The jiffle king said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Maybe I'm too soft, but if I knew that people had lost jobs because I was earning over 2 million Euros per week I'd happily take a pay cut to keep people in their jobs. I'm sure he could survive pretty happily on 1.5 million Euros per week

Happy with a mere 1.5M euros per week? barely enough to pay his butler and puts him at the edge of poverty in PH terms. Its only 149 euro per minute whether he is sleeping, playing or going to the toilet. I'm very surprised that you have the temerity to suggest he could afford a cut from 198 euro every waking minute to 149. Given they have 3 children Messi should be given a raise surely?

Reminds me of this (exchange "downloading music for free" for "Messi taking a pay cut"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NofDpJcuIw8

[The jiffle king]

That is so close to the mark in terms of the Messi situation

For Man City or anyone else to get Messi, it has to be a 100M signing on fee or close and then 100M per year. Its a bit like Many city giving all of their TV money to Messi every year

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

The jiffle king said:

That is so close to the mark in terms of the Messi situation

For Man City or anyone else to get Messi, it has to be a 100M signing on fee or close and then 100M per year. Its a bit like Many city giving all of their TV money to Messi every year

And to be honest, I'm not convinced he'd improve their squad a huge amount anyway. Certainly not to that extent!

[uk66fastback]

Incredible to think that if you're a Premiership player on £50,000 a week, so £2.5m a year, you think you're doing okay. And you are, but that's nearly what Messi gets every week (less tax of course, if he pays any) but before any other sponsorship or endorsements. He could take a 100% pay cut until the end of his contract and not even notice it ...

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Still stories circulating about him leaving

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56034652

I personally can't see it happening, or certainly not to another major club. I think he will either stay a Barcalona, move to Argentina to play for some boyhood club, or just retire. I can't see him going to play in another league like Ronaldo has done.

What does everyone else think?

[aeropilot]

He's made no secret of his desire for his kids to be educated in USA at some point.....so, he'll be heading to MLS for the twilight few years of his career......whether that will be end of this season though, or in another 2 years depends on how long he thinks he can play for?

I think he might go to MLS end of this season.......rather than risk going to another league. Can't see him coming to City and PL in all honesty.
It will be stay at Barca for a year contract extension (if they can afford him) then head to MLS, or go to PSG for 2 years, then head to MLS.