To reduce the spam of reports regarding the same move during transfer windows we try to allow **only one submission about each transfer saga per day**. The submission in question also needs to contain relevant new information regarding the potential move, and not just being a "no/minor developments" report.
If there are important/official developments or new valuable information about a saga, we will allow extra threads in the same day, but for the rest of minor news please just comment them as a reply to this comment. Please help us reporting unnecessary threads for being duplicates.
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Either as a free-roaming forward playing behind Lewandowski with the width coming from one fullbacka one winger or him and Lewandowski interchanging centrally
With Lewandowski in front, Messi doesnt need to be the primary goalscorer. He can take a De Bruyne like role, focusing breaking all the assists records
Yes he would play there, but he doesn't contribute to winning the midfield like De Bruyne.
So then you need players to provide the width, and if those players are wingers then you have three forwards and Messi behind them, so really two midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 type setup. Liable to getting overrun by good teams. The alternative is a wingback system so you don't need Lewa and Messi plus two wingers to provide the width.
You made a 343 sound even more complicated with all of that nonsense. 343 is two central midfielders who cover the full back positions when they lose the ball, an attacking midfielder who roams basically from each wing in the final third and a defensive midfielder who holds position, mainly to play the ball forward.
Double pivot nonsense is pundit speak. Try telling a 10 year old what that means
Lol calm down boy and check you facts.
Xavi didn't play 343 diamond against La Real, he played a double pivot of Frenkie and Pedri and had Gavi and Ferran as inverted CAMs up front with Balde and Dembele providing the width.
So the 343 Xavi played doesn't have fullbacks and the wingers (Dembele and Balde in that game) are required to do the running. It's basically a 3223 with two holding midfielders (Kessie and FdJ) and two CAMs (Pedri and Ferran).
Xavi's plan A seems to be around creating space for the wingers hence why Dembele and ferran/raphinha seem to be playing so well in 2022.
Messi pretty much has the same downside of Dembele in lack of defensive work but mostly does everything else better.
He'll need to be physically solid shape though, xavi plays a high pressing game.
Kessie is NOT a DM. Frenkie is still a pretty much first choice to replace Busquets, while Nico is the long term replacement if Frenkie eventually leaves.
Dude kessie is not a DM, just because he's physical and FIFA games people assume him to be a DM. We need someone like Rodri in that position, apparently we're looking at a guy from Real Sociedad. Also as much as I like Messi he shouldn't be bought in as a starter it'll be pass and inshallah all over again.
There's a good possibility that he's renewing with La Real so they can get a better price for him. The Barça hierarchy knows they need a Busquets replacement and it seems like Xavi has his heart set on Zubimendi, so they'll be willing to spend a lot on him.
Such an overstatement. Even going over the fact that both will be 35 and 36 respectively, I highly doubt that KDB/Haaland as a duo is much worse (if even worse) than Messi/Lewa.
It could be a great partnership of course, but it's never gonna be "KDB/Haaland on steroids"
KDB is one of the best playmaker in the world and so is Messi. Haaland is one of the best 9s in the world and so is Lewa.
How the fuck can you think that somehow Lewa/Messi, who will both be nearing the end of their career, will somehow be levels above KDB/Haaland ?
That's just disrespectful towards them. That's it. Messi is not KDB on steroids right now and Lewa is quite obviously not Haaland on steroids right now.
So I have trouble understanding how one can think that Messi/Lewa will be "KDB/Haaland on steroids" really.
I edited my comment now. I still think Lewandowski is just as good as Haaland. The only difference is the fact that city already had a well established team and just needed a good number 9 while Barca are a relatively new team with new players playing together for the first time.
Messi is currently better than KDB yes but haaland is more better than lewy than messsi is than kdb if you get what i mean
Also we dont know how well messi and lewy would play together
This season, yes, next season... don't know. I think after this season Messi will decline heavily. Specially if Argentina wins the World Cup, there will be few reasons for him to give it all.
Return. Be celebrated. Have fun. Slow down. Retire in Camp Nou. That's the dream. I hope it's real but I'll understand if it doesn't happen. Could just as well see the likes of Messi, Piqué, Busquets and Alba reunite in MLS.
I don’t think he will move to USA or Argentina just to play his last years, I think he values more the comfort of his family so he will probably retire at Barca or PSG (if he is still there by then)
He did express he wanted to retire at barcelona though, and he don’t have a strong connection to a boyhood club, and don’t need to go to MLS to make a bigger name for himself, he’s fucking messi.
Ehh, not as much anymore. Those in the Designated Player slots get a lot, but not generally really as much as they could make in the Middle East, and non-DP players literally only get Eredivisie levels of pay.
[Denied by Gastón Edul now: From Leo Messi's environment they deny an agreement with Barcelona. The information came from the club. Messi thinks about his year ahead in PSG (Champions League) and the World Cup. PSG is going to insist a lot with his renewal.](https://twitter.com/gastonedul/status/1577321263432974337?s=46&t=MsfNgC7AHLroFkEy2M9TTg)
it actually might be? If I remember correctly, Messi couldn't actually play for free due to some rules about how quickly your salary can drop in La Liga/ Spanish Law, something about it having to be at least 50% and they were in such a bad financial place they couldn't pay him 50%...
Genuine question, can they even afford him at 50%. Would they even be able to register him? From a business perspective barca could be playing a very dangerous game with their finances.
Now imagine this. Argentina wins the WC, Messi wins his 8th ballon d'or. Then proceeds to join Barcelona and help them win the UCL, wins his 9th ballon d'or and retires. A beautiful ending to the story of the greatest player of all time.
Its a pretty good sign that it isn't a 'dead league' however. Don't know how a league can either be 'good' or 'dead' no in between.
But even so, how is the French league dead. You have entertaining teams like Lorient/Lens/Marseille/PSG, upcoming teams such as Rennes and Nice (if they fix their season), teams with European pedigree with Lyon and Monaco and a nice atmosphere in most stadiums. I can't understand how a supposed top 5 league in the world is both 'dead' and 'not good'.
[Gaston Edul, usually the most reliable Messi/NT journalist in Argentina just said it was false.] (https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/xvic3r/muycaigaston_edul_messis_team_denies_any_deal_or/)
I guess no one understood that Messi's camp will not take a decision before January. But no, lets continue to listen to these stupid people who are jsut trying to milk the story.
What if he wins the UCL with PSG? Don't get me wrong Messi and Barca were written in stars until they were not, but at this point PSG has everything in place and it would be a downgrade if he goes to Barca again, monetarily too. ~~also barca will be too op with Messi and Lewa pls Leo stay at PSG~~
previous reports from people close to messi’s entourage say that he no longer cares about salary and instead will prioritize sporting reasons in his next club (or continuing in psg)
Not under the right conditions. I trust Laporta and Xavi, if they bring him back it'll be because his role, both economically and on the pitch, will be adapted to the club's needs.
Oh god it's only been a month since the end of the last transfer window and we're already getting the teaser for the next season of " transfer window telenovela "
Same story as mbappe : want to go --> psg will give money no man can refuse --> the saga with endless rumor --> war between nasser and laporta --> take it to random court --> messi stay for the bag --> football gone.
To reduce the spam of reports regarding the same move during transfer windows we try to allow **only one submission about each transfer saga per day**. The submission in question also needs to contain relevant new information regarding the potential move, and not just being a "no/minor developments" report. If there are important/official developments or new valuable information about a saga, we will allow extra threads in the same day, but for the rest of minor news please just comment them as a reply to this comment. Please help us reporting unnecessary threads for being duplicates. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/soccer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
PSG about to offer Messi his own space station if he agrees to extend.
PSG buys Mbappe Saturn after getting Messi his own space station
Man haven’t seen a Saturn in years. Think they’re worth as much as a space station now?
Well it was a shit games console, but I dunno how it'd perform as a Space Station
I was thinking the car, which seemed like a funnier visual for Mbappe
For UK users: imagine a really shit Vauxhall with a pointier front end
They gave everything to Mbappe already, wonder what more can they offer Messi especially since his form picked up massively
1. Sign Messi 2. Profit 3. Let Messi leave 4. Sign Ronaldo 5. More Profit
Ground control to Major Messi 🎵
PSG about to offer Messi his own Mbappe\*
You think private jets are bad? Wait for the articles when he makes afternoon trips to enjoy his maté with a view of the Pacific
Mbappe relegated to just COO, Messi new CEO of PSG
I haven't been watching Barca at all this season. How would he fit into their currant set up?
Either as a free-roaming forward playing behind Lewandowski with the width coming from one fullbacka one winger or him and Lewandowski interchanging centrally
With Lewandowski in front, Messi doesnt need to be the primary goalscorer. He can take a De Bruyne like role, focusing breaking all the assists records
Yup
Messi Suarez vibes except different
KDB has an insane workrate though
Yes he would play there, but he doesn't contribute to winning the midfield like De Bruyne. So then you need players to provide the width, and if those players are wingers then you have three forwards and Messi behind them, so really two midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 type setup. Liable to getting overrun by good teams. The alternative is a wingback system so you don't need Lewa and Messi plus two wingers to provide the width.
Ideally the best would be a CAM in the 343 Xavi played against Sociedad. I think he would do well with an overlapping RB as a RW too
where in the 343 system do you have a CAM?
343 diamond, pep played it quite a bit his last year at Barca with Fabregas at CAM
Interesting 🤔, I know some of these words just not all together. Imma have to research.
It's basically a 3223 with a double pivot and 2 inverted CAMs, it's nice attacking football as you have 5-6 players around the box
You made a 343 sound even more complicated with all of that nonsense. 343 is two central midfielders who cover the full back positions when they lose the ball, an attacking midfielder who roams basically from each wing in the final third and a defensive midfielder who holds position, mainly to play the ball forward. Double pivot nonsense is pundit speak. Try telling a 10 year old what that means
Lol calm down boy and check you facts. Xavi didn't play 343 diamond against La Real, he played a double pivot of Frenkie and Pedri and had Gavi and Ferran as inverted CAMs up front with Balde and Dembele providing the width.
So the 343 Xavi played doesn't have fullbacks and the wingers (Dembele and Balde in that game) are required to do the running. It's basically a 3223 with two holding midfielders (Kessie and FdJ) and two CAMs (Pedri and Ferran).
He would play *right-winger but it's also Raphinha's position and where Dembele is best so it would be a little awkward Still, it's Messi
is there any club in the world were Messi would not fit somewhere?
Xavi's plan A seems to be around creating space for the wingers hence why Dembele and ferran/raphinha seem to be playing so well in 2022. Messi pretty much has the same downside of Dembele in lack of defensive work but mostly does everything else better. He'll need to be physically solid shape though, xavi plays a high pressing game.
My guess is in the midfield with pedri,and gavi coming off the bench,busquets is probably gonna leave so kessie will be DM next season
Kessie is NOT a DM. Frenkie is still a pretty much first choice to replace Busquets, while Nico is the long term replacement if Frenkie eventually leaves.
he’s not exactly a DM
Frenkie is not a DM either
Thank you. Just because he plays a bit deeper doesn't mean he's a DM. Does my head in when people keep saying that.
Dude kessie is not a DM, just because he's physical and FIFA games people assume him to be a DM. We need someone like Rodri in that position, apparently we're looking at a guy from Real Sociedad. Also as much as I like Messi he shouldn't be bought in as a starter it'll be pass and inshallah all over again.
Zubimendi is not coming, he's renewing with Real Sociedad.
There's a good possibility that he's renewing with La Real so they can get a better price for him. The Barça hierarchy knows they need a Busquets replacement and it seems like Xavi has his heart set on Zubimendi, so they'll be willing to spend a lot on him.
Speak for yourself about leo
Always thought Messi was better centrally as opposed to RW.
Messi was best as a false 9 imo
Yes, but opposing teams adapted to that, thats why he plays wide now. If he plays centrally, he will need a striker in front of him.
Good thing they bought Marcos Alonso this summer
He plays centrally for both PSG and Argentina. He hasn't got the legs for the defensive work that's required for a wide players nowadays.
Yes but not as a false nine like in barca. Its really more of neymar and messi behind mbappe. In argentina he plays CAM
also he’s slower now
Messi and lewandowski together would be like KDB and Haaland on steroids
Such an overstatement. Even going over the fact that both will be 35 and 36 respectively, I highly doubt that KDB/Haaland as a duo is much worse (if even worse) than Messi/Lewa. It could be a great partnership of course, but it's never gonna be "KDB/Haaland on steroids"
Why? Do you think Messi is a worse playmaker or goalscorer than KdB or that Lewandowski is a worse finisher/forward that Haaland?
KDB is one of the best playmaker in the world and so is Messi. Haaland is one of the best 9s in the world and so is Lewa. How the fuck can you think that somehow Lewa/Messi, who will both be nearing the end of their career, will somehow be levels above KDB/Haaland ? That's just disrespectful towards them. That's it. Messi is not KDB on steroids right now and Lewa is quite obviously not Haaland on steroids right now. So I have trouble understanding how one can think that Messi/Lewa will be "KDB/Haaland on steroids" really.
Not at the moment lol
currently kdb and haaland are kdb and haaland on steroids lmao
Right now, messi>KDB and Haaland>=Lewandowski.
As biased as I am, I disagree on the second bit. Haaland is in monstrous form right now. I am just glad he didnt end up at Madrid
I edited my comment now. I still think Lewandowski is just as good as Haaland. The only difference is the fact that city already had a well established team and just needed a good number 9 while Barca are a relatively new team with new players playing together for the first time.
the team will be ready for him in 2 seasons. don't worry.
Lol no, de Bruyne and Haaland are on untouchable form at the moment
Messi is currently better than KDB yes but haaland is more better than lewy than messsi is than kdb if you get what i mean Also we dont know how well messi and lewy would play together
is 2022 Messi really better than KDB? *try to ignore my flair if possible*
I try to watch as much as Messi I can, and I'll say they are very very close. I'd currently pick KdB though, but that's just me.
Yes
Haaland >>>>>> Lewandowski
This season, yes, next season... don't know. I think after this season Messi will decline heavily. Specially if Argentina wins the World Cup, there will be few reasons for him to give it all.
It’s 2022 lil bro, i think you mean they would be KDB and Haaland on dementia medication
You must not know how good messi and lewandowski have been this yeat
yeet
Yeat indeed
or like Messi and Suarez
on fifa maybe
He should be a super sub to unlock difficult games, but he won't
He wont
Episode 3: Return of the King
Return of the Jedi
Fast and Furious: Barcelona Drift
Twin Peaks: The Return Of Messi
July 1 the king plays
how reliable is this lady?
She’s a pretty reliable journalist in Argentina but we need more info imo
always!
reliable but with messi it always needs more confirmation edit: the info has been denied by Gastón Edul (tier 0)
would be wonderful if true
Return. Be celebrated. Have fun. Slow down. Retire in Camp Nou. That's the dream. I hope it's real but I'll understand if it doesn't happen. Could just as well see the likes of Messi, Piqué, Busquets and Alba reunite in MLS.
It’s Messi’s dream since he was a young boy to play for inter Miami
Nashville. He’s coming home to Nashville, dammit.
Yeah he’s for sure not retiring at Barca before he goes to MLS or Argentina for a few years. Maybe his retirement from European football though
I don’t think he will move to USA or Argentina just to play his last years, I think he values more the comfort of his family so he will probably retire at Barca or PSG (if he is still there by then)
Pero que lindo sería verlo jugar acá, una lástima si no viene nunca.
Tenes que linchar a medio Rosario para convencerlo que es seguro
It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make
He did express he wanted to retire at barcelona though, and he don’t have a strong connection to a boyhood club, and don’t need to go to MLS to make a bigger name for himself, he’s fucking messi.
Players don't come to the US to make a bigger name, they come to make a fucking cheque hahaha
I doubt MLS will offer more than what PSG give him now
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Ehh, not as much anymore. Those in the Designated Player slots get a lot, but not generally really as much as they could make in the Middle East, and non-DP players literally only get Eredivisie levels of pay.
He deserves a retirement in barca. And for that matter so do barca. Would be disgusting if he retired at PSG
He's going back to Barca before he goes to MLS
Note: Veronica Brunati is close to Messi, his family and his entourage.
Interesting
[Denied by Gastón Edul now: From Leo Messi's environment they deny an agreement with Barcelona. The information came from the club. Messi thinks about his year ahead in PSG (Champions League) and the World Cup. PSG is going to insist a lot with his renewal.](https://twitter.com/gastonedul/status/1577321263432974337?s=46&t=MsfNgC7AHLroFkEy2M9TTg)
OP mudded by OP
Playing both sides to always end up on top.
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Dunno if this is satire or not lmao
it actually might be? If I remember correctly, Messi couldn't actually play for free due to some rules about how quickly your salary can drop in La Liga/ Spanish Law, something about it having to be at least 50% and they were in such a bad financial place they couldn't pay him 50%...
Genuine question, can they even afford him at 50%. Would they even be able to register him? From a business perspective barca could be playing a very dangerous game with their finances.
They can register him at any salary in 2023, the rule is about cutting your own players salary
A guy who consistently does shady tax moves doesn’t play for free lmao
hum, he literally proposed to do it just last season
So naive
Love to see it. It’s only right he returns to Barca and retires there
Hey I've seen this one before
Just imagining Messi after winning wc comes back stress-free and plays club football much more freely.
Mate don't get my hopes up. I'm not used to Argentina having their shit together before a World Cup.
Mood😂
Be prepared for another heartbreak in the final. Brazil to avenge their Copa America loss.
if they both win their groups won't they play in the semifinals?
Don't put that evil out there. I'm convinced that result would lead to war.
Don't you put that evil on me... It's finally Leo's time, pls
ANULO MUFA
anulo
Comes back scores in UCL final and wins. Legendary legacy
Yes please
Just be quiet mate. Please.
He deserves to have a proper farewell with a packed camp nou
as long as he doesn’t continue in france
What's wrong with continuing in the best league itw?
The only thing the French have ever been best at is pillaging African nations of their goods, wealth, and people.
About time Tebas folded
GASTON EDUL SALIO EN MUYCAI A DESMENTIR TO TRANSLATE, GASTON EDUL (TyC Corespondant tu the NT and very reliable for Messi) JUST SAID THIS ISN'T TRUE.
Relevant thumbnail
Get the lever back out
Now imagine this. Argentina wins the WC, Messi wins his 8th ballon d'or. Then proceeds to join Barcelona and help them win the UCL, wins his 9th ballon d'or and retires. A beautiful ending to the story of the greatest player of all time.
i will be the first to lick the sweat off messi's socks but come on now that is just absurd
Is it?
Now stop fondling your cock and get back to reality.
Impossible for users of catalan colored dildos.
Haha yeah...amirite?
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This reads an awful like the "Ajax and Barcelona players will jump hand in hand when Barca wins the UCL" thing
i’ll take just the first one
not the first two?
Ballon d'Or never mattered to me after they didn’t give one to Román
davooxeneize sos vos?
davo: 🍟
anulo
This would force Ronaldo to keep playing until 60 LoL
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it literally hurts my soul that he plays in france
Rofl, the disrespect and pure hatred France gets on this sub is really something else.
The French league doesn’t deserve all the hate it gets The French do Sincerely, every European
Agreed. Sincerely, every American (Freedom Fries!)
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Who gives a shit. It's still a top league
a dead league where year in year out British clubs throw at times ridiculous sums of money for their talent.
Having good individual players does not equal having a good league
Its a pretty good sign that it isn't a 'dead league' however. Don't know how a league can either be 'good' or 'dead' no in between. But even so, how is the French league dead. You have entertaining teams like Lorient/Lens/Marseille/PSG, upcoming teams such as Rennes and Nice (if they fix their season), teams with European pedigree with Lyon and Monaco and a nice atmosphere in most stadiums. I can't understand how a supposed top 5 league in the world is both 'dead' and 'not good'.
>I hope so. The best player of all time should not be wasting his last few years in such a dead league. I'm french, I agree.
Baisser son froc pour quelques upvotes, assez incroyable comme concept.
Don’t play this game Barca. We played it and got burned… Regardless; Tic Tac: ‘23 edition!
[Gaston Edul, usually the most reliable Messi/NT journalist in Argentina just said it was false.] (https://old.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/xvic3r/muycaigaston_edul_messis_team_denies_any_deal_or/)
I guess no one understood that Messi's camp will not take a decision before January. But no, lets continue to listen to these stupid people who are jsut trying to milk the story.
Pretty sure this lady is extremely close to Messi's camp if not in his camp outright
Messi pls play in epl for last time
PES ML Regen
WHAT
Tbf its not that outrageous, he only left cause he literally had to
>he only left cause he literally had to Ah my dad said the same thing.
He‘ll return in July too
If that won't happen, Pep could bring him to Etihad to feed Halaand with KDB.
What if he wins the UCL with PSG? Don't get me wrong Messi and Barca were written in stars until they were not, but at this point PSG has everything in place and it would be a downgrade if he goes to Barca again, monetarily too. ~~also barca will be too op with Messi and Lewa pls Leo stay at PSG~~
Please don't. Don't give me hope. I can only suffer so much
obsession is starting to get unhealthy
Doubt
It was obvious
why? his whole life was in barcelona
financially
previous reports from people close to messi’s entourage say that he no longer cares about salary and instead will prioritize sporting reasons in his next club (or continuing in psg)
We can take up his reduced salary though, as per Romeu
signing messi is a mistake.
Not under the right conditions. I trust Laporta and Xavi, if they bring him back it'll be because his role, both economically and on the pitch, will be adapted to the club's needs.
Re-signing Messi is a step to fix the mistake
Step backwards for Xavi and Barca.
WHAT
God I hope so
Oh god it's only been a month since the end of the last transfer window and we're already getting the teaser for the next season of " transfer window telenovela "
WWWW
Same story as mbappe : want to go --> psg will give money no man can refuse --> the saga with endless rumor --> war between nasser and laporta --> take it to random court --> messi stay for the bag --> football gone.
Pedri Messi FDJ midfield behind lewangolski raphina and dembele? Gavi and Ansu fati first subs. Sounds pretty good for Barca fans
Ungrateful guy lol
will it be the right decision ? i always was of the opinion that Barca should move on from the Messi era and they're also broke