Barcelona have to turn Lionel Messi into their Michael Jordan by offering him ‘life project’, claims presidential candidate Jordi Farre as he outlines plans to convince club icon to stay
- Barcelona have been told they must turn Lionel Messi into their Michael Jordan
- Presidential candidate Jordi Farre believes the forward needs a life project
- The Argentine handed in a transfer request at the Nou Camp in the summer
- He continues to be linked with a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City
Lionel Messi has to be the Michael Jordan of Barcelona if the Catalans want to keep him at the club, says presidential candidate Jordi Farre.
Messi had a difficult relationship with former president Josep Bartomeu, who resigned in October, which led him to handing in a transfer request in the summer.
The forward ended up staying at the Nou Camp but his contract expires at the end of the season and he continues to be linked with a move to Manchester City.
Lionel Messi has to be the Michael Jordan of Barcelona, says presidential candidate Jordi Farre
Farre compared Messi to the NBA and Chicago Bulls great, who won six championships
Barca’s presidential elections are set to take place in January with Farre one of the men in the running, although Victor Font is the heavy favourite.
Farre outlined his plans to keep the six-time Ballon d’Or winner by comparing him to NBA and Chicago Bulls great Jordan.
‘Doubting what Messi has given us is even in bad taste,’ Farre told Radio show Esport3.
Farre is in the running to replace Josep Bartomeu and outlined his plan to keep Barca’s captain
‘Messi has to be offered a life project. We have to turn Messi into Barca’s Jordan.
‘We are working to offer Messi a project in the institutional life of the club. We have already spoken with Messi’s environment.
‘We have a proposal. The offer is not economic. Leo has already made a lot of money. It is a love story. I am sure I have a project that will convince Messi.
Keeping Messi at Barca will be the priority for the incoming president but there are signs the forward is still unhappy.
After arriving back from international duty with Argentina, Messi said he was ‘tired of always being the problem for everything’.
Messi has been linked with a move to Manchester City to join former manager Pep Guardiola
His comments came after team-mate Antoine Griezmann’s former agent Eric Olhats claimed he had a ‘deplorable attitude’ and has overseen a ‘regime of terror’ at the Nou Camp.
Pep Guardiola’s new two-year deal at the Etihad means Man City could reignite their interest in the forward.
According to The Sun the Premier League outfit are considering making an offer to sign Messi mid-season for a fee rather than waiting until he becomes a free agent next summer.
