It will never be known for sure, of course, but it is unlikely that the Emir of Qatar will have been waiting on December 28, in the middle of the night for him in Doha, to watch on television Lionel Messi’s interview with Jordi Évole in La Sexta as many of us did. But the owner of Paris Saint-Germain will no doubt have learned what the Argentine told the world in this long-awaited conversation.
Since buying the French club during the summer of 2011, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has always had a dream: to take Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi to the Parc des Princes. He tried many times, but it could never materialize. However, he knows that, on this occasion, Messi’s mind is much more open, and the desire and determination to put together a plan to try to bring him to Paris are present.
The Barcelona captain has not yet decided what he will do in the summer. He will be able to leave the Camp Nou for nothing unlike last summer, when he tried to force his way out 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 reigned at the club over the past few years, the streak of poor results and the lack of direction, he will definitely want to leave. Others trust the idea that deep down he wants to stay and finish his incredible career in Barcelona, and if he is convinced that the conditions are given (new president, best team, Xavi involved in some way .. .) to achieve more success, he will stay.
But if Messi leaves, will PSG really go for him in the summer? Of course. Is it something probable or realistic? This is to be seen. The priority in Paris is to extend the contracts of Neymar and Kylian Mbappé as they both expire in June 2022, and new long-term contracts for the two strikers will involve the continued construction of a highly competitive team around them, as well. how to secure their values in case they want to leave in the future.
Sources have told ESPN that recent talks with the environments of both players have been positive and there is no doubt there is confidence within the club regarding the signing of the extensions of their contracts. “They want to stay,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said a month ago. Negotiations will continue this month, according to sources, and now that Mauricio Pochettino is in charge, the team hopes that the direction the Argentine coach gives the club will help convince Neymar and Mbappé to continue in the French capital. .
Even if the two superstars wanted to leave and not extend their contracts, who could buy them this summer? Barcelona has no money to add to the Brazilian, while neither Real Madrid nor Liverpool seem to have the financial package to sign Mbappé. All have suffered the blow of the coronavirus pandemic and financially, it would be very difficult for any club to invest 250 million euros in total (transfer, salaries and commissions) for Mbappé.
So let’s assume Neymar and Mbappé stay in Paris. This is where the problem with Messi arises.
The way you look at it, thinking about the club’s overall budget up to their payroll, their current contracts with sponsors, taxes, Fair Play Financial regulations, loss of profits due to the pandemic and the fall of the agreement for domestic television rights in Ligue 1, it seems impossible for PSG to count on the money to have Neymar, Mbappé and Messi together. Leaving aside how amazing this trio could be, it’s very hard to see how it can be funded.
According to Football Leaks, Neymar earns € 36.8m per year (net), Mbappé is at € 11.3m gross and Messi at € 50m net! An astronomical figure in wages per year just for them, and this without taking into account the potential increases that could receive Neymar and Mbappé (especially the French) if or when they sign the new contracts. There is a possibility that Messi will accept a reduction in his salary, but it should be a reduction of a huge and even perhaps irresponsible moment of money.
This season, PSG’s salary is € 337m, the third highest in Europe behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, for a total budget of € 637.8m. the club would have to massively increase its profits to be able to recruit the Argentine respecting the parameters of the Financial Play Play. And no, the sale of hundreds of thousands of Messi shirts could not cover– not even close!
But, anyway, Paris will try. Last summer they were in contact with Messi’s father and are trying to put together a plan. There are people within the team who believe that Pochettino’s appointment could help bring clarity in the negotiations with Messi, Mbappé and Neymar. Everyone knows who will be the coach in the summer, and PSG sees in ‘Poch’ a great resource (no doubt more than Thomas Tuchel) when we talk about convincing Messi to move to the French capital instead of staying in Barcelona or go for a meeting with Pep Guardiola in Manchester City.
Convincing won’t be an easy task, of course, but the hardest part of it all will be finding the money. This could end up being an impossible mission.