The news that Barcelona fans have long been dreading finally arrived this week.
Lionel Messi, the club talisman and heart beat at the Nou Camp, is now giving serious consideration to his future.
As reported by Sportsmail, Messi cut short his holiday to meet with newly appointed manager Ronald Koeman and told the Dutchman he is ‘more out than in’ when it comes to his future in Catalonia.
Though the Argentine is arguably the finest footballer on the planet, a series of obstacles now arise regarding what happens next.
With a year remaining on his contract and teams unable to trigger his mind-blowing £630million (€700m) release clause, the options for Messi, regardless of his unrivaled talents, are limited.
Sportsmail examines what is in the realms of reality when it comes to what could be the biggest transfer of all time…
Lionel Messi has some huge decisions to make with his Barcelona career now at a crossroads
Manchester City
The links with the Etihad Stadium just simply will not go away.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means these are testing financial times for all football clubs but, when it really comes down to it, City have all the money they need.
Recently coming out victorious from their CAS appeal against UEFA’s claims of Financial Fair Play breaches, City will feel more confident than ever before in their model of operation.
A City move would reunite Messi with the boss who crafted him into a star, Pep Guardiola
Pulling off the signing of Messi, however, would be bigger than anything that has gone before. An obvious lure comes in the form of boss Pep Guardiola, who honed Messi into the finest footballer on the continent, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, and built his great Barca side around him.
Still, City would require a way around the astronomical buy-out fee to keep the books balanced and would rely on Barca accepting a reduced bid this summer. Or wait until January to negotiate openly with Messi.
Thereafter, however, City could still comfortably meet Messi’s mammoth annual wages and ensure he is still the most well-paid footballer in the world.
Chances of signing – 3/5
Manchester United
When it comes to financial rivalry United can certainly wield their might alongside their wealthy neighbours.
Whether United are interested in Messi or not, they will be linked with the superstar purely due to their status as one of the few sides who could realistically package a deal together.
From a marketing perspective this would be a dream, given that Messi personally has a global fan base which exceeds that of most Premier League teams.
Messi would represent a huge deal but United have moved away from signing older stars
He would, of course, also propel United back into Premier League and European contention and ensure the eyes of the world are glued to Old Trafford week-in, week-out.
All that said, his age, 33, simply does not fit into United’s new ways of doing things. Too many times in recent years have the Red Devils been burnt by offering lucrative deals to ageing stars.
Players in Ole Gunnar Solkskjaer’s match-day squads now average around 25 years old, and that looks set to be the benchmark heading into the future.
Chances of signing – 1/5
Inter Milan
Most European clubs have been borderline silent when it comes to the subject of Messi… except Inter.
Over at the San Siro, Messi’s name is on the lips of everybody, and his image was even beamed onto the Milan’s iconic Duomo cathedral towards the end of the season by Inter’s Chinese owners. (They claimed this was to promote coverage of their side’s fixture with Napoli, though it all seems rather convenient.)
Speculation exploded in Milan recently, after club owners beamed Messi onto the Duomo
As recently as last week former Inter director Massimiliano Mirabelli made the admission that a long-term plan to acquire Messi has been in the pipeline for several years, and was something the club’s owners identified in their very first meeting.
Inter appear the most likely side to tempt Barca with a bid this summer and, is it important to note, that while the Spanish giants have refused to sell, this is the last window in which they can receive a fee for their talisman.
Preferably, of course, Inter would want to take Messi on as a free agent and it has been speculated that long-time sponsors Pirelli would help to make up the player’s huge wages with a series of added incentives.
Chances of signing – 4/5
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have a track record when it comes to audaciously taking prized jewels from Barcelona.
It is fair to say the relationship between the two clubs has been nonexistent ever since the long-drawn Neymar saga.
PSG have finances to afford a deal for Messi though the Neymar saga destroyed any relations
While they already don’t want to lose Messi, Barca would fight tooth and nail to ensure PSG do not get their hands on the Argentine.
Interestingly, the Parisians could offer Neymar as part of a complex switch, though no murmurs have left the Parc Des Princes suggesting that this is even being considered as a possibility.
Chances of signing – 2/5
Juventus
Juve shocked the world when they moved swiftly to get Cristiano Ronaldo out of Real Madrid, so surely they could not be looking to pull this off again with Messi?
The reigning Serie A champions are rank outsiders when it comes to Messi’s possible destination, but have shown the nous and know-how to get a huge deal done.
Recent reports in Spain sensationally suggested Juve had even made contact with Barca to offer Ronaldo, in order to clear his hefty £28m annual earnings from their wage bill.
Juve have shown the know-how to get a huge deal done, but their wage bill is far too high
Such talk was dismissed by the club, though all indications are that Juve are cutting back on their spending prowess and looking to invest in the future under an energetic new manager in Andrea Pirlo.
While Messi naturally appeals, the fact he turns 34 next June does not.
Chances of signing – 1/5
Chinese Super League (CSL)
All appears to have gone quiet over in China, compared to a few years ago when the top flight division could not help itself but throw vast sums of money at Europe.
Name an elite European player from the past five years and the CSL have most probably been linked with him.
Messi represents the ultimate status symbol, and would be used as a figurehead of Chinese football for years to come. And, while already the best paid player in the world, Messi could expect his earnings to skyrocket even further.
After failing to acquire Gareth Bale last year, Chinese Super League suitors may now eye Messi
A move to China therefore would purely come down to the player, and it is this element that suggests talks would not even begin.
Like his rival Ronaldo, Messi wants to be at the pinnacle of world football for as long as possible. Money is no longer truly a motivating factor for the 33-year-old, who is set to rake in a fortune from commercial deals and endorsements long after he finally retires.
For China, this one will always remain an unattainable dream.
Chances of signing – 0/5
Major League Soccer (MLS)
As with China, a move to the United States would represent a huge compromise by Messi on his standing in the football world.
While it would be a the biggest coup in the history of American soccer, with a host of teams rapidly crunching the numbers to work out if a deal is possible, it appears to be a non-starter.
The quality of living may well appeal to Messi much more, with the option of living in one of the USA’s most glamorous cities with a greater degree of anonymity than he would be afforded in Europe.
Still, if this one was to happen, it would likely occur several years down the line.
Chances of signing – 1/5
Barcelona
And so finally we return to Catalonia, to the club still desperate to retain their finest ever product.
It is no secret that Messi loves Barca and the club adore him back in equal measure. They would bend over backwards to meet his every demand, yet over the past few years his main demand has not been materialistic.
It is no secret that Messi loves Barca and the club adore him back in equal measure
Instead it has been a simple demand to square up against the very best in the world once more and win the biggest honours of all. This is one promise Barca have been unable to fulfil.
It is understood that Messi is personally hopeful of erratic club president Josep Maria Bartomeu leaving the club, ahead of his official scheduled departure date at the end of next season.
Messi does indeed look all set to give Barca one more season at the very least, given no team in the world are stumping up £630m to release him in the next few months.
New boss Ronald Koeman must talk the superstar round, though it is understood Messi is hoping for the early departure of club president Josep Bartomeu (left)
It is up to Barca therefore to move smartly now. The club need to show Messi they are heading back in the right direction, and are capable of dominating Europe again before his majestic powers start to wain.
If the Nou Camp rebuild is done correctly, and with Messi happily at its base, the Argentine will likely sign a new deal next season taking him through until the day he hangs up his boots for good.
Chances of staying at Barca – 4.5/5