What happened between Messi and PSG, and why he’ll leave this summer?

The football world’s most stunning saga of the summer of 2020 is the saga of Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). After Messi announced his intention to leave Barcelona after a reported falling out with new manager Quique Setién, it was widely assumed that he would join French giants PSG. However, the situation became even more complicated and the ending was not quite what we expected.

The saga started in August 2020 when Messi, after 18 years with Barcelona, stunned the football world by announcing his intention to leave the club. He made his announcement just days before the start of the new La Liga season. Reports suggested that Messi was unhappy with the club’s new manager and the lack of ambition from the board. He also felt that he was not supported enough by the club. This led to a very public dispute with the Barcelona hierarchy and he made it clear that he wanted to leave.

At the same time, reports emerged linking Messi with a move to French giants PSG. The Parisian club had historically been in pursuit of Messi but had been put off by the huge financial cost of a potential transfer. Suddenly however, the financial implication seemed irrelevant in comparison to the potential opportunity to sign one of the greatest players of all time. It quickly became apparent that there was a real chance of seeing Messi don the blue and white colours of PSG.

It seemed like the perfect solution as Barcelona would get some compensation for the greatest player to ever play for them, whilst Messi would join a club desperate for success and capable of helping him achieve his objectives. However, the situation quickly changed. As the days ticked by, it became clear that Barcelona were not willing to play ball and that despite the player’s desire, the two clubs could not come to an agreement on a transfer fee. This led to frustration from both parties and ultimately to Messi’s lawyers sending a “Burofax” announcing his departure from Barcelona.

However, Messi is still at Barcelona as the two clubs have not been able to agree on a deal. The only way that Messi can leave Barcelona is through legal channels, as the Catalan club are not willing to waive the release clause of €700 million. This means that Messi is set to stay with the club until at least the end of the season unless someone is willing to pay the hefty fee. This has led to Messi publicly expressing his desire to move away and to reports that he is looking at other potential destinations.

It is now almost certain that Messi will be leaving Barcelona this summer. Whilst it has not been confirmed where he will go, it seems likely that he will move to PSG. Despite the earlier difficulties in the transfer negotiations, the French club will be keen to bring in the six-time Ballon d’Or winner. Whether it’s this summer or next, it looks like one of the greatest players of all time will be turning out for PSG in the near future.