A type of deal never seen before
Lionel Messi could be involved one of the most bizarre transfer dealings in history as reports over his future continue to emerge.
Messi’s contract runs out at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, meaning the 35-year-old could leave another club on a free transfer for a second time in his career.
With no signs of a new deal coming the World Cup winner’s way speculation over where he could go are hotting up.
Former club Barcelona have unsurprisingly been linked with a fairytale reunion but that will reportedly only happen on the condition that Messi is willing to lower his wage demands.
A move to Saudi Arabia to cross paths with Cristiano Ronaldo has also been touted, but that move seems unlikely.
Another destination has been America and the MLS. Reports a few months ago claimed that he had agreed a deal with Inter Miami.
However SPORT claimed in February that the Argentine could be involved in a transfer that would see all 29 participating MLS clubs contribute towards his wages.
Each club would be asked to put forward a percentage of the wage they would pay and Messi would pick his preferred destination – with Inter Miami seeming the most favourable out of the options.
This would then justify the decision to bring the forward to the MLS and benefit every club with additional ticket sales as well as the opportunity to boost the price of TV rights.
The slight negative would be on how the other 28 clubs Messi isn’t playing for are affected in terms of how much they are paying and if one of their players – for example – was to injure Messi, therefore affecting their own club’s investment.
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- Full video footage of Lionel Messi’s spat with Wout Weghorst emerges
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