According to Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti, Barcelona’s announcement of Lionel Messi’s departure is a ploy to put pressure on Javier Tebas.
The Argentines renewal will not be possible under the current wage limit, and Barcelona desperately need La Liga to provide more breathing space.
While the League did offer 42 million Euros for the same through their deal with CVC, the Catalan board is against the proposal.
Barcelona do not want to fall into a vicious loop for the next 40 years in exchange for temporary consolation. They feel the price to pay is too high, especially in the long run.
While the announcement of Messi’s departure is official, the statement was very vague. The board knows well that Lionel Messi is an invaluable asset to the League.
As Toni Juanmarti reports, the Blaugrana’s are trying to use the Argentines brand image as a weapon in retaliation against Javier Tebas.
La Liga cannot afford to lose their talisman, for it is true that the 6 time Ballon d’Or winner brings in vast viewership single-handedly. The hope is that Tebas will cave in and provide an exception to make Messi’s signing possible.
As it stands, however, Lionel Messi is not a player of FC Barcelona and will not renew due to financial constraints.
