Barcelona shortlist the perfect Messi replacement as he looks set to leave
With the club’s greatest player and a source of numerous goals and assists more likely than not to depart, Barcelona have already shortlisted a fill-in.
With every passing day, Lionel Messi looks to be moving away from the club of his lifetime, Barcelona. Having said that, this time around, the rumours seem to carry some fruition as the player has himself been vocal about wanting to leave. Messi’s latest comments about being scapegoated about Barca’s problems are further proof of his resentment.
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Despite a new president likely to arrive in January, building a winning project with the Blaugrana as Messi desires is going to take a long time. The matter is easier said than done, because the club simply isn’t in the financial state to carry out revamps. Needless to say, the problems don’t just lie within the first team, but also in other departments of a vast organ.
ESPN claims that at least the current board, led by Carles Tusquets is pessimistic about the Argentina international’s chances of staying at the club and will save enough to allow the Blaugrana afford Neymar. The Paris Saint-Germain winger is close to renewing his contract at the Parc des Princes but is still thought to be open with returning to Spain.
Considering that his contract expires in 2022, the Catalans will have a solid chance to bring him in at a relatively lower fee next summer. Neymar may, in all likelihood, accept a pay-cut to return to the surroundings he was most successful in and that may work in the club’s favour. However, the financial allegations made by the parties may be a hindrance.
If Neymar returns to Barcelona, it will surely be a big achievement for the club because they would have locked in on Messi’s successor in next to no time. The Brazilian has showed his incredible flair without the Argentine and can be superb, as we have seen during his matches with the national side, as well as PSG, where he conducts the play.
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Do you think Neymar will return to the club next summer?