Messi: Top clubs battle to land Barcelona legend, Mbappe to exit PSG?

Less than twenty-four hours after the news of Lionel Messi’s Barcelona departure, the shocking news is still sending shockwaves across the football world.

There’s only one story in the world of football transfers on Friday: Lionel Messi’s shocking exit from Barcelona.

PSG and Manchester City are among the clubs lining up to sign him on a free transfer but the news could also have big repercussions in Real Madrid, says Dean Jones.

Messi had been expected to stay at Barca, so Thursday evening’s bombshell announcement that they could not commit to the deal “due to economic and structural issues” has left everyone guessing where he could head next.

Manchester City was immediately playing down a move, despite being interested in the past; but their signing of Jack Grealish will hinder Messi signing.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain all naturally come into the discussion.

For Madrid, it’s this latest development around Messi that boosts their own plans for a super-strength revamp over the next 12 months.

Primarily, they will hope this opens the door for him to head to Paris and finally encourage PSG to let them move ahead with completing a transfer they feel is inevitable anyway.

PSG explore Messi deal, Mbappe move more likely (Euro Sport)

Kylian Mbappe has been Real Madrid’s only significant target since the free transfer signing of David Alaba from Bayern Munich, yet a breakthrough has been difficult to find. The French club have been adamant he will remain with them in Ligue 1.

Madrid have always respected PSG’s position over the situation despite knowing Mbappe wants to join them. This has been underlined by the fact the player has not committed his future by signing a new deal to stay in the French capital.

Nasser Al-Khelafi has been so stern over his position that he recently stressed that PSG “will never sell him and he will never leave on a free.” It was a slightly bizarre statement yet the tone was clear.

With Messi available, things can change. PSG are one of the only clubs who could afford him and, as Mbappe’s replacement, he’s as good as it gets.

PSG have long indicated, privately, they would look at signing Messi if it became possible. They are now beginning to explore the details that would involve.

Of course, on one hand, you could see this as a way to convince Mbappe to sign up. Playing as part of a front three with Neymar and Messi is quite the temptation.

Yet this was a summer when Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Gini Wijnaldum and Achraf Hakimi signed, sending the wage bill into orbit. Financial Fair Play rules may be relaxed right now but there still has to be some limit to this spending, surely?

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will take the view that pursuit of Messi means Mbappe has to become available. Madrid had not intended to spend any serious cash in this window unless the exciting young French forward became available. Let’s see if this can be done.

It is thought Mbappe would cost €150 million if there was a deal to be negotiated. If not? Well, Madrid are confident he will sign for them next year, anyway, on a free transfer.