Of course it will never be, but it is unlikely that the Emir of Qatar was waiting for him in Doha on December 28, in the middle of the night, to watch Lionel Messi’s interview with Jordi Evole on television. in La Sexta as many of us did. But the owner of Paris Saint-Germain will no doubt have found out what the Argentinian told the world in that long-awaited conversation.
Since buying the French club in the summer of 2011, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has always had a dream: to bring Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi to the Parc des Princes. He tried many times, but it never materialized. However, he knows that Messi’s mind is much more open this time, and that the desire and determination to devise a plan to get him to Paris is there.
The Barcelona captain has not yet decided what he will do in the summer. He will be able to leave the Camp Nou in exchange for nothing more than last summer, when he tried to force his departure despite remaining under contract. This time things will be different.
Will he really end this 20-year love affair with the city and the club that gave him everything? Some believe that due to the chaos that has prevailed in the club in recent years, the string of poor results and lack of direction will make him want to leave. Others rely on the idea that he wants to stay deep down and finish his incredible career in Barcelona, and if he is convinced that the conditions are right (new president, better team, Xavi involved in some way … ) more hits, he stays.
But if Messi leaves, will PSG really go for him in the summer? Of course. Is it probable or realistic? We will see. The priority in Paris is to renew the contracts of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé as they both expire in June 2022, and new long-term contracts for the two forwards will imply the continuity of building a highly competitive team around them, as well as ensuring of their values in case they want to leave in the future.
Sources have told ESPN that the recent talks with both players’ circles have been positive and that there is undoubtedly confidence within the club regarding the signing of their contract renewals. “They want to stay,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi a month ago. Negotiations are set to continue this month, according to sources, and with Mauricio Pochettino in charge, the team hopes that the direction the Argentine coach is giving the club will convince Neymar and Mbappé to continue in the French capital.
Even if the two superstars wanted to leave and not renew their contracts, who could buy them this summer? Barcelona has no money to add the Brazilian, while neither Real Madrid nor Liverpool appear to have the financial package to sign Mbappé. All have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic and financially it would be very difficult for a club to invest a total of 250 million euros (transfer, salaries and commissions) for Mbappé.
So let’s assume that Neymar and Mbappé will stay in Paris. This is where the problem with Messi arises.
The way you look at it, thinking from the club’s overall budget to payroll, current sponsorship contracts, taxes, Financial Fair Play rules, loss of profits from the pandemic, and the fall of the deal for Ligue 1’s domestic television rights it seems impossible that PSG has the money to have Neymar, Mbappé and Messi together. Aside from how incredible this trio could be, it’s really hard to see how they can be funded.
According to Football Leaks, Neymar earns € 36.8 million per year (net), Mbappé is € 11.3 million gross and Messi € 50 million net! An astronomical figure in salaries per year just for them, without taking into account the potential increases that Neymar and Mbappé (especially the French) could receive if and when they sign the new contracts. There is a possibility that Messi will accept a cut in his salary, but it should be a huge moment cut and maybe even irresponsible money.
This season, PSG’s payroll is € 337 million, the third highest in Europe after Barcelona and Real Madrid, for a total budget of € 637.8 million. the club would have to increase its revenues enormously to be able to recruit the Argentinian while respecting the parameters of financial fair play. And no, the sale of hundreds of thousands of Messi’s jerseys couldn’t cover him – not even close!
But Paris will try anyway. Last summer they were in touch with Messi’s father and are trying to come up with a plan. There are people on the team who believe that the appointment of Pochettino can help clarify the negotiations with Messi, Mbappé and Neymar. Everyone knows who will be the coach in the summer, and PSG sees ‘Poch’ as a great resource (no doubt more than Thomas Tuchel) when it comes to convincing Messi to move to the French capital instead of Barcelona to stay. or go to meet Pep Guardiola in Manchester City.
Convincing him will not be an easy task, of course, but the hardest of all will be finding the money. That could become an impossible mission.