A couple of minutes ago the news broke that Lionel Messi told FC Barcelona that he wants to leave the club right away. Shocking as this may be, there were some people who speculated with the possibility of his departure, pointing out 3 most likely destinations for him.
There will be no shortage of teams interested in acquiring Messi’s services, as he’s universally considered as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Then again, we’re talking about a guy who’s used to winning, dominating, and competing at the highest level.
Moreover, Messi has amassed a huge amount of money throughout the course of his remarkable career. Therefore, money’s not going to be the only factor that could play a role in his decision to join a new team.
We can already rule out another Spanish team making a run at him. There’s no way he wears the jersey fo another La Liga side after all he’s been through with Barcelona unless he wants to become the biggest traitor in club history, even ahead of Luis Figo.
So, with that possibility already ruled out, let’s break down the three teams that do have an actual shot at signing the Argentinean superstar before the start of next season, based on rumors, fit, money, and ability to compete.
Where Is Messi Going? Most Likely Destinations:
Intern Milan
Messi could play with Lautaro Martínez. (Getty)
The world was shocked when Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus a couple of seasons ago and there’s no reason to believe that Messi couldn’t pull a similar move off, given the huge money injection the Italian side recently got.
Joining Inter and playing in the Serie A would have the major incentive of going toe-to-toe with Cristiano once again and proving once and for all who’s got the edge in their rivalry. Also, even though taxes are high in Italy, they have plenty of cash to spare to keep him happy.
Antonio Conte has already put together quite an impressive core and he’d join his compatriot Lautaro Martínez in the attacking front. Moreover, former Inter presidentMassimo Moratti recently claimed that the team has already reached out to the Argentine to lure him to Giuseppe Mazza stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG also lost to Bayern this season. (Getty)
Paris Saint-Germain has been tied to almost every single big name in the world and for very good reason. The French side has never hesitated to pull the trigger on huge moves even if that means spending way too much money.
PSG is coming off a heartbreaking loss in the UEFA Champions League final and it’s pretty obvious that they still need another star to put an end to their European woes. Messi’s also looking to compete at the highest level and ruling the continent once again.
While Ligue 1 may not be an enticing tournament for Messi, PSG’s depth would help him stay fresh for when it matters most and he’d had plenty of help on his pursuit of another Champions League trophy. Also, he’s good friends with Argentina teammate Ángel Di María.
Manchester City
Guardiola would love to have Messi on his team again. (Getty)
It goes without saying that Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola have a great relationship. The Spanish coach brought the best out of his game and Messi helped him turn his Barcelona into arguably the greatest soccer team ever.
Like PSG, Manchester City have struggled to take a step forward in European competitions despite dominating their domestic tournament, and also like PSG, they won’t hesitate to break the arcs and spend as much money as it takes to sign Messi.
It’s also worth noting that Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero is one of Messi’s closest friends.They’ve played together since their days at the youth categories of the Argentina national team. Also, joining City among all these teams won’t hurt his legacy at all, as he’d be playing in arguably the most competitive league in the world.
