Lionel Messi was pictured eating with PSG gamers simply 24 hours earlier than the bombshell that he had made a dramatic U-turn on his determination to re-sign with Barcelona – an ominous photograph that might show to be pivotal in ending his 21-year keep on the Nou Camp.
The Catalan outfit have been engaged on a deal to re-sign their membership legend all summer season lengthy after his contract expired, however the cash-strapped facet have been struggling to search out the wage funds to accommodate him.
All indicators had pointed in the direction of Messi pledging his future as he launched into talks with president Joan Laporta, however now the membership have confirmed he is not going to proceed with them subsequent season after the famous person reportedly modified his thoughts having grow to be ‘sad’ together with his pay-cut, and likewise the standard of the present squad.
Lionel Messi has dramatically U-turned on his determination to resume his contract with Barcelona
The Argentine was pictured with 4 PSG stars simply 24 hours earlier than the large bombshell
And an image that emerged of him having fun with a meal out with PSG gamers could level to his sudden change of coronary heart, as he was pictured with former Barca team-mate Neymar, Argentina team-mates Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Italian star Marco Verratti.
Neymar – who has led requires Messi to hitch him in Paris up to now – uploaded the photograph of the 5 out in Ibiza, captioned ‘Amigos’, with almost six million likes.
With Messi beaming alongside the PSG stars, it would solely ramp up hypothesis that the Parc de Princes may very well be his subsequent vacation spot after affirmation arrived that he’ll formally be leaving the Nou Camp after simply over 20 years.
His former Barcelona team-mate Neymar has beforehand pleaded with Messi to hitch PSG
Messi got here near departing the membership final summer season after informing Barca by burofax that he needed an exit, though reluctantly agreed to remain after former president Josep Bartomeu insisted any membership must pay his 700m euro launch clause.
At that time, Neymar stoked the flames by admitting he was determined to play alongside Messi as soon as once more after they linked up so effectively collectively at Barca.
‘What I need most of all is to play with Messi once more, to have the ability to get pleasure from him as soon as once more on the pitch,’ Neymar mentioned in December.
‘He can play in my place, I’ve no drawback with that. However I need to play with him subsequent yr, for certain. We now have to do it subsequent season.’
Angel Di Maria (L) has additionally made no secret of his want for Messi to maneuver to Parc des Princes
Di Maria, additionally within the photograph, mentioned this April that it might be ‘fantastic’ to play with Messi at membership degree as his contract approached its finish.
‘From my entire profession, from all the things I’ve seen, I feel Leo is from one other planet. To have him as a team-mate can be fantastic,’ he advised BeIn Sports activities.
‘However he’s a Barcelona participant, he has a contract. After that, we’ll see. I discuss quite a bit with him and I all the time inform him that the essential factor is his happiness and that of his household. It is onerous to say anything.’
One other of his Argentina team-mates Leandro Paredes has additionally made no secret of his want to have Messi with him at PSG, saying the workforce would welcome him ‘with open arms’.
‘Messi at PSG? I hope so, all of us need him to come back however it is going to be his determination,’ he advised ESPN in December.
Midfielder Marco Verratti mentioned Messi signing for PSG can be ‘one other present’ to him in his profession
‘We now have an unimaginable squad, good gamers, good folks, we benefit from that.
‘As I’ve mentioned, I hope Leo will make the perfect determination for him, however we’ll welcome him with open arms.’
Because it seems – everybody within the photograph has made a plea for Messi to hitch PSG, as Verratti additionally teased the opportunity of him becoming a member of – claiming it might be ‘one other present’ to him in his carer.
‘In fact I would prefer to play with Messi,’ he advised Canal+. ‘I would be giving the ball to Neymar and Messi, standing again and watching.
‘It would be unbelievable to have him with us – one other present that soccer would’ve given me.’
The newest developments will come as a hammer blow to returning president Joan Laporta
Messi returned to Barcelona on Thursday following a vacation together with his spouse and kids
It comes after the gorgeous revelation that Messi’s unimaginable chapter with Barcelona is lastly coming to an finish.
In a shock assertion, Barcelona blamed LaLiga for ‘financial obstacles’ stopping them from handing him a brand new profitable contract.
‘Regardless of having reached an settlement between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of each events to signal a brand new contract right now, it can’t be formalized as a consequence of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish LaLiga rules),’ it mentioned.
‘Given this case, Lionel Messi is not going to proceed linked to FC Barcelona. Each events deeply remorse that the desires of each the participant and the Membership can not lastly be fulfilled.
‘Barca wish to thank with all its coronary heart the participant’s contribution to the enhancement of the establishment and desires him the perfect in his private {and professional} life.’