The past 24 hours in Barcelona have been filled with tension. Lionel Messi’s arrival was never going to be a smooth operation, but Joan Laporta’s management of the financial situation and the creation of space on the wage bill generated hope.
The situation has now become complicated, as according to reports from Guillem Balague, Messi is about to make a decision about his future and it will not be Barcelona he chooses.
The World Cup winner really wanted to return home and was willing to help as much as possible to pioneer the operation.
However, Barcelona have not yet put forth an official proposal to his entourage. The journalist further adds that if he does not return, the blame will be on the club and not La Liga.
The Blaugranas have made it their priority operation to sign the former captain in June. Such is their desperation that they are also considering a collaboration deal with Inter Miami that would include a six to eighteen-month loan to Spain.
The club believe that they have sufficient margin to sign the Argentine on a free transfer and accommodate his wages. In light of the same, they even sent their economic feasibility plan to La Liga earlier this month hoping for a prompt response.
The league administration, however, have failed to respond promptly. After weeks of patient waiting, Barcelona were informed of a suspicious transaction of €40 million that required justification. One meeting between the two parties put the confusion to bed, and one wonders why La Liga had to wait so long for a simple formality.
Amidst the fear of missing out on their top target, Barcelona sent Messi an unofficial offer worth €25 million yesterday. The player has given the club ten days to put an official offer on the table, and the Catalans are now racing against the clock to receive La Liga’s approval.
Nothing is clear about the PSG star’s future as it stands, except for the fact that Barcelona are falling behind. Al-Hilal and Inter Miami are the other top options on his table, and although the former is economically far more lucrative, the player has doubts about the sporting level.