‘Almost impossible’ for Messi to follow me, says Figo
Portugal legend Luis Figo has said that is 'impossible' for anyone to pay enough to prize Lionel Messi away from Barcelona.
"I believe this year it will be impossible for someone to pay Messi's termination release clause. Also the market has been very quiet," Figo said on Spanish television.
Messi has a release clause of 700 million euros written into his Barcelona contract, but the player also has a clause that can allow him to inform the club if he wants to leave by May. In that case, the Argentine would be allowed to leave the Nou Camp for free.
Although that date has long passed, the coronavirus-enforced break saw the extension of nearly all domestic leagues and the Champions League, with FIFA insiders now saying there is no precedence of such a case and that the organisation would likely empower players by backing Messi.
Figo also said that he finds it unfeasible that any team would be able to afford the contract that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is on. He is currently paid 72 million euros as salary, plus a 30 million euro bonus, which takes his annual paycheque over the 100-million-euro mark.
"I also see that is it very difficult or impossible for any team to pay for the contract Messi has today. Due to these issues, I see it as almost impossible that something related to what happened 20 years ago with me could happen."
Paris Saint-Germain have already told L'equipe that they cannot afford to bring Messi to the Parc des Princes, saying that Financial Fair Play (FFP) laws would not allow them to complete such a signing. Manchester City are currently favourites, but, having only escaped a Champions League ban imposed for breaching FFP rules by filing a case against UEFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, they are unlikely to tempt European football's governing body any further.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Brazil legend Ronaldo believes that Messi is still 'in love' with Barcelona, but he believes things at the Camp Nou should be done differently.
"Messi has a very great, very intense relationship with Barcelona. I don't think he stopped being in love with Barcelona. I think the situation is being exaggerated a bit and after the 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich, people are always looking for responsibility.
"I think Messi needs his teammates to help him, as they obviously do. I think Barca needs to think differently in the early part of the season so they have the chance to win the Champions League. But letting their main player go is not the solution."
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