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Lionel Messi has reportedly told Barcelona that he wants to leave the club immediately. Barcelona have gone trophyless in a season for the first time in 12 years. To top it off, they were humiliated by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, losing the game 8-2.
It truly looks like rock bottom for Barcelona. They have an ageing squad with most of their starters well into their 30s. There seems to be disagreements between the management and the players. Recruitment has been awry for a long time and it looks like a long road back for the Blaugrana.
As a result, the question of whether the best player in the world should kick on at Barcelona has surfaced. Messi does not have a lot more years in him and with Barcelona, another UEFA Champions League title is likely to remain an elusive dream.
He is bound to make a decision. Realistically it can go one of these five ways.
#5 Messi to stay at Barcelona
The most obvious of the lot and directly attributed to Lionel Messi's unwavering loyalty to the club where he became the player he is, staying at Barcelona seems to still be up there as an option for the future.
The Argentine also earns a whopping £1.15 million per week and those are not wages that a lot of clubs can even think about paying for a player. As such, Messi will need to take a paycut if he is to move on.
At 33, he wouldn't need to adapt or change it up if he kicks on at Barcelona. His status at Barcelona is undoubtedly that of a king's and he is seldomed questioned. It won't be the same elsewhere. Premier League fans, in particular, will not take it lightly if Messi were to trudge around aimlessly on a dull day- something he gets away with at Barcelona.
#4 Juventus
Messi was linked with Juventus when he got into a spat with the management earlier this year over some comments made by Eric Abidal following the sacking of Ernesto Valverde.
Juventus would definitely love to get involved if Messi and Barcelona would terminate his contract mutually and he were to be available on a free transfer. Messi's release clause at Barcelona is an astronomical figure. €700 million.
The Bianconeri are the kingpins of free transfers and if such a scenario arises where Messi can be signed for free, then we could finally see Messi and Ronaldo in the same team.
#3 Inter Milan
Imagine there being one more intense chapter in the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry. Inter Milan have also been linked with Lionel Messi. The Nerrazzuri are definitely one of the biggest and storied clubs in Europe. They have a great footballing vision, have been flexing their financial muscle and they are on the come up once again under Antonio Conte.
The prospect of joining Inter Milan also gives Messi the chance to go for glory in a different country and go up against his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, and maybe even cement his status as the greatest of all time.
Inter Milan have also been linked with Lionel Messi several times in the past and if they end up signing him, they could really throw a spanner in the works for Juventus as they chase a 10th consecutive Serie A title.
#2 Manchester City
A reunion with Pep Guardiola, to slot into the space vacated by David Silva and a chance to further bolster a team that has often shown the qualities to be the best in Europe. A lot of financial clout to add to it. Manchester City are easily one of Messi's most realistic destinations and are one of the frontrunners to sign him.
Manchester City have been recruiting wisely, sticking to their plan of building a sustainable system and in the face of it, a move for Messi won't suit them. However, of late, they have been found lacking at times in terms of character and Messi's arrival could swiftly make them the world beaters they could be.
It also gives Messi the opportunity to finally play in the Premier League and thereby silence a lot of his detractors who have constantly brought up the argument that it is easier to stat pad in the other European top flights.
#1 Paris Saint-Germain
The only team in the world that could even hold discussions about Lionel Messi's €700 million release clause. Paris Saint-Germain are famous for breaking the bank and doing deals no other clubs can imagine pulling off. That's how they got Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the same summer.
Messi can reunite with his old teammate Paris Saint-Germain and along with Kylian Mbappe, they could form the deadliest attacking trio of our times. But it would be hard to sell the idea of a rather unexciting league campaign to Messi however good their Champions League prospects might look.
PSG would also be the only club that could put Messi on the same wage rate as Barcelona right now.
