Messi back to Barca, Not a done deal...

Reports now saying he is gone. Barca does not have the money.

This is nuts. Harry Kane looks like he has played himself because Man City don’t want him now. I wonder if the Grealish transfer will go through now. I know I would take all that money and put it on La Pulga.

Not surprised one bit. This is just the start even though money wasn't the only issue. Both Real and Barca have been desperate for sometime. They knew they were in real trouble and start losing top players without the cash from the Super League, reason they are still fighting for it ... For the good of the game of course .....

I know he will follow the money and the hardware...but just think if he did something like going to a 2nd tier premier league team (like Man U....just kidding) or MLS how many of the pundits heads would exploded.

PS YNWA

Explains the dig at MANure oops I meant Man United.  Honestly, it was the best deal for Barca.  Yes he's Messi but that was a lot of $$$ to spend on him. Since I just don't see him getting that type of contract anywhere else, I would expedite my transition to the MLS and US.  I hear Miami is in real need of a mega-boost.  Then again, there is always AU. Make a deal where he gets a part ownership of the team, cut of jerseys sales, maybe a future deal to buy his own franchise, shoot, he can practice on his own time and in his own place away from the team too.  I think if they can offer him a package that involves mega major sponsorship deals along with less wear and tear on his aging body, it would more than suffice playing in the MLS...

Some are still speculating that Barca will borrow their way out of debt and keep him.

It’ll be a complete farce if MLS bends salary rules to bring him here. It was bad when Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore we’re making 35X the average of their teammates…

I hope Barca doesn't do that.  It's just not a sound business to borrow when you're having financial issues already. Plus, I think the issue isn't really about having or not having the funds, but the pseudo salary cap in the La Liga. In 2019-2020 Barca had a Cost Limit(La Liga for salary cap) to spend a max of €671.  It was €348 last year and this upcoming season it is believed to be closer to €160 million.  I may be off by a couple of million but regardless that is a precipitous drop in funding that would affect your ability to sign one the greatest players...

According to La Liga is a closely guarded secret as to how it's all computed for each team(insert rolling of eyes). But the annoying feature of this Cost Limit is that it's not the same for every team, like it is stateside in say the NFL where all teams get to spend the same. This link goes a little into the perceived factors that determine the cost limit outcomes - www.lalasport.com/2019/09/what-is-salary-limit-and-how-is-it.html

Here is the list per team for the just completed 2020-2021 season...
www.statista.com/statistics/764962/budget-equipment-from-football-from-the-league-in-spain-2015-2016/