The Argentine superstar’s recent journey to Saudi Arabia has strained his relationships with Sporting director Luis Campos and Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier.
In order to visit Saudi Arabia, where he is an ambassador for that country’s bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the 35-year-old attacker had to first get approval from two senior PSG officials.
Messi reportedly spoke to the club’s administration before Campos and Galtier did, and they agreed to allow the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to travel to Riyadh. This is according to PSG Talk.
Messi’s move has reportedly enraged the club’s supporters, who are frustrated with PSG because players can do whatever they want without regard for the institution.
Messi is set to become a free agent in the summer when his current PSG contract expires, and Saudi top team, Al Hilal, are one of the teams interested in signing the Argentine.
UEFA declares Messi’s UCL titles
Meanwhile, Daily Post reports that UEFA has declared that Lionel Messi has won the Champions League only three times in his career.
Messi has been part of the Barcelona team since 2004 and played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s Champions League victories in 2009, 2011, and 2015 but not in their 2006 success.
UEFA declared that the Argentina international had won only three titles as he was not part of Barcelona’s squad in the 2006 final.
Messi’s return to Barcelona in jeopardy
Barcelona’s hopes of reuniting with Lionel Messi this summer have suffered a significant setback. As previously reported by Sports Brief, the Catalan club had been hoping to bring back their record goal-scorer, who left to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. However, the club has failed to convince La Liga about the viability of their financial plan.
Barcelona is currently facing financial difficulties and has been trying to cut costs while still trying to sign Messi. But La Liga, which oversees the financial fair play of all clubs in the league, has expressed doubts that Barcelona will be able to meet their demands and targets.
According to reports, Barcelona’s viability plan aimed to reduce the club’s wage bill by €200 million and make savings of €300 million. The club’s failure to meet these targets has raised concerns about their ability to comply with financial fair play regulations.
The failure of Barcelona to secure Messi’s return could have far-reaching consequences for the club, given the importance of the player to the team’s success over the years. Messi, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, scored a total of 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona.
His departure from the club last year was seen by many as the end of an era.
Barcelona’s financial difficulties have been exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit the club hard in terms of lost revenue. The club’s wage bill, which was already one of the highest in Europe, has been further inflated by the signing of several high-profile players in recent years.
The club’s attempts to cut costs have included the departures of several key players, including Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, and Arturo Vidal. However, the club’s efforts to reduce its wage bill have been hampered by the high salaries of some of its remaining players, including Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho.
Barcelona has also been trying to raise funds through player sales, with the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic, and Junior Firpo all rumored to be on the chopping block. However, the club has struggled to find buyers for these players, who are all on high salaries.
The failure of Barcelona to bring back Messi is likely to be a major disappointment for fans of the club, who had been hoping to see their star player return to the Camp Nou. However, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the team’s fortunes on the pitch.
Barcelona’s current squad is still packed with talented players, including the likes of Griezmann, Coutinho, and Frenkie de Jong. The club also has a number of promising young players, such as Pedri, Ansu Fati, and Ilaix Moriba.
However, the loss of Messi will undoubtedly be felt by the team, both in terms of his on-field contributions and his influence in the dressing room. The 33-year-old Argentine forward was not only the club’s all-time top scorer but also its talismanic leader, who inspired his teammates with his passion and commitment.
Despite the setback of failing to sign Messi, Barcelona remains one of the biggest clubs in world football, with a rich history and a loyal fanbase. The club will be hoping to bounce back from its recent financial difficulties and re-establish itself as a major force in the sport.