Messi is disillusioned at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi is ready to quit Barcelona this summer, as long as one of Europe’s mega-rich clubs are able to put together a financial package that is able to suit both the players and his club, according to reports from the Sun.
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The report, quoting a Barcelona source, suggests that Messi is deeply unsettled at the Nou Camp and that it is unlikely that bridges can be reconstructed, making it even more likely that the Argentine will walk away from the Catalan club in the summer to pursue a new challenge.
Chelsea are believed to hold the strongest interest in Messi, and the Blues would be able to meet the £480m financial package that would be required in terms of the transfer fee and wages that would be paid to the forward over the course of a six-year contract.
The Blues are unlikely to be the only suitors for Messi if he does become available, however, with Manchester City, Paris Saint Germain and even Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid mentioned as clubs who would also be able to meet the financial commitments required.
Messi scored a penalty in Thursday evening’s 5-0 Copa del Rey thrashing of lowly Elche – but that result is unlikely to dampen the talk of a crisis at the Nou Camp following the weekend defeat to David Moyes’ Real Sociedad.