Well, it happens. Lionel Messi leaves PSG, meaning he will enter the market as a free agent this summer when his contract expires at the end of June. Of course, he is already free to negotiate a deal with a new club as of January 1 Argentina superstar, who ruffled some feathers with the club this week and was suspended as a result of his unauthorized journey to Saudi Arabialeaves the French capital with his father and agent who communicated so much to the club about a month ago.
So that leads to the question, where now? Where would arguably the greatest player ever, one at the height of popularity just months after winning the World Cup with Argentina, play next season?
Here’s where I want to see it, five potential destinations ranked from the ones I want to see least to the ones I want to see the most and why. It is important to note that this is not about what is likely to happen. The pragmatist in me knows that a return of Messi to Argentina is not currently on the agenda, even though the romantic in me wants to see it happen. So on the list.
5. Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
If you want that money this is the place to go. He’s been connected to the country a lot lately, not just from that loss to Saudi Arabia at the World Cup kickoff, but he’s also a tourism ambassador for the country, which was the reason he flew there to cover this whole uproar. cause in the country. first place. It would be a huge drop in the quality of football, but with the hundreds of millions he would get, it would be hard to say no, especially since you know the place quite a bit by now. It feels more likely than some on this list, but it still feels rather unlikely. It wouldn’t be the most popular move for his fans, and it probably would be the least popular, sacrificing quality for money. Besides, does he really want to? follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo?
4. Manchester City (England)
Could this be the time? Probably not, but can you imagine playing under Pep Guardiola again and working for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne And Erling Haland? It would be absolutely bonkers. I have no doubt he would flourish in that free-flowing City attack and could probably produce a 20-goal, 20-assist season. It would be unfair, and while there are questions about how they would make it work financially, those questions have been with this team for over a decade. They are not linked to him now, but when it seemed utopian that Messi would leave Barcelona, it was City who first offered the mega-dollars.
3. below Miami (United States)
The one everyone in the United States wants to see and within reason. This could mean even more to the game than what Pele did by joining the New York Cosmos in the 1970s. At least that’s what Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber thinks. There is a rumor that he could potentially get club ownership as part of a deal, and Miami is a frequent vacation destination for him and his family. He even did owns an entire floor there in a luxury apartment building. David Beckham, Manchester United legend and owner of the club, was at PSG training last week and talked to the Argentinian about it. This feels like one of the most likely destinations, but it doesn’t line up with the top two I want to see. After another season or two in Europe, yes. Imagine being in the United States in 2026 to defend his country’s World Cup title? But now it seems he is still too close to the top of his game to make it to MLS.
2. Newell’s Old Boys (Argentina)
It’s a totally romantic and totally unrealistic option, but boy, would I love to see this. In fact, it could be number 1 for me. To play for his youth club, the one he played for in the academy and dreamed of making his first division debut, would be a match made in heaven. The Rosasrio club is legendary. He is clearly a god in the land, heck he can’t even go out to dinner, but even more so in the province of Sante Fe where he comes from and where the club is located. There is something magical about the thought of Messi playing in the Copa Libertadores with Newell’s. Imagine him visiting La Bombonera to face Boca Juniors, Estadio Monumental against River Plate and his first Clásico Rosarino against Rosario Central. Now Argentina’s financial situation is an absolute mess, and unless he agrees to a ridiculous pay cut or free play, there’s just no way this will happen, sadly enough. In addition, the lack of security in Argentina is a major concern. In March, Gunmen fired at a grocery store owned by Messi’s wife’s family while leaving a threatening note.
1. Barcelona (Spain)
However, there is a romantic choice that is realistic. It’s like getting back together with that one ex you know you never should have let go of. Can you imagine this return? How many greats leave their team and then go back? In basketball, Michael Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls, LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and in football, it sort of happens. Terry Henry returned to Arsenal, Didier Drogba suitable for Chelsea again and right Ronaldo did it with Manchester United. This would be on an even higher level if you consider the popularity of football now, the status of Messi and all the buzz around Barcelona. The reason Messi left was that Barcelona got themselves into such financial trouble that they couldn’t afford to re-sign him. However, for the past two years, they have somehow invested heavily in the team despite those financial obstacles, pulling so-called “levers” to make money appear. Exactly how much more leverage they have now is unknown and how on earth they make this work is beyond me, but it has been clear for months now that they, including President Joan Laporta, will do their utmost. He would get another chance in the Champions League with a better-assembled squad than when he left, and this is the team he will always be synonymous with. It might just be time to go home.