FC Barcelona are reportedly trying to stop Paris Saint Germain from signing their former player, Lionel Messi by filing a complaint with the European Commission saying the French club would breach spending rules if they successfully sign the Argentine football star.
Lionel Messi officially confirmed that his 21 years journey with FC Barcelona was over through a press conference held at Barcelona on Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Immediately after the press conference, it was confirmed that Lionel Messi and his representatives have accepted an offer from the French club. The offer is a two-year deal which will earn him £25 million per year.
Futballnews have reported that Messi has accepted the offer and he is willing to play for the French side. Hence, he would undergo his medical at PSG today, August 9, 2021.
The latest reports confirmed that Lionel Messi has already arrived in Paris to complete the historic move. PSG will be Messi’s first club outside Barcelona and the club are planning to stage a befitting unveiling ceremony.
ESPN confirmed that in the coming days, Messi would be unveiled at the historic Eiffel Tower in Paris in the presence of hundreds of football fans.
Despite the planned ceremony which is expected to be televised, Barcelona are ready to frustrate the effort of PSG according to Spanish publication Marca.
Recall that Barcelona who enjoyed the service of Messi for 21 years in which he helped the club to win 35 major titles, tried to offer the 6-time Ballon d’Or winner a new contract. Unfortunately for the financial fair play regulations of La Liga, they were not able to complete the deal.
Hence, they had to let Messi go which is a big blow to the club’s aspiration ahead of the coming 2021-2022 season.
In what looks like a witch-hunt, Barcelona want to attract the attention of the European Commission to the fact that if PSG signs Messi, they would spend above their revenue which is against UEFA financial fair play.
Even though PSG’s owner, Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been injecting his funds into the club, Barca believes that the illegality in that would be more glaring when Messi joins the club. Hence, they want the commission to stop the move.
As it stands, Barcelona’s move to stop PSG’s effort to sign Messi does not look like what would stop PSG’s desire to bring Messi to France. The French club would have sealed the deal before the commission sits on the complaint.
Barcelona will be without Sergio Aguero for 10 weeks
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s new signing, Sergio Aguero has sustained a calf injury at the Spanish club which would keep him out of football for 10 weeks.
The 33-year-old Argentine striker joined the club this summer from Manchester City for free after the Premier League club failed to renew its contract. One of the reasons why City failed to renew his contract was because of how he frequently sustained injuries.
It seems the Argentina international has already started that trend at Barcelona even though he is yet to play any competitive game for Barca.
“Tests carried out on first-team player Kun Aguero have confirmed a right calf injury. He will be out around ten weeks,” Barcelona said in a statement.
LATEST NEWS | Tests carried out on first team player Kun Agüero have confirmed a right calf injury. He will be out around ten weeks. pic.twitter.com/wZNU4ahV0c
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 9, 2021
