Transfer news: Lionel Messi is unlikely to leave Barcelona, says Esteve Calzada
Wednesday 14 January 2015 15:06, UK
Football finance expert Esteve Calzada believes certain clubs have the capability to buy Lionel Messi but doubts he is leaving Barcelona any time soon.
Messi was non-committal on his future when asked ahead of Monday’s Ballon d’Or awards ceremony if he would be at the Nou Camp next season.
Financial Fair Play regulations mean even some of the world’s richest clubs would struggle to afford Messi’s transfer fee and wages, but Calzada believes Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid could meet the figures required if Barcelona could be persuaded to sell.
“We have to take into account Barcelona would never sell the player, especially with the political situation there is there,” Calzada told Sky Sports News HQ.
“No president wants to go into history as the one who has sold the best player in the club’s history. He has a buyout clause of around £200m. If you could persuade (the player) to come you would then have to come up with around £40m gross.
“If you make it a five-year contract, that makes it around £200m - plus the £200m buyout - you are talking £400m.
“In the books, that would be around £80m per year, that’s what you would have to generate in revenues or profits to get there, plus you have the Financial Fair Play restrictions, so it’s not easy.”
Calzada insists it would be possible for a handful of teams to sign Messi but is not convinced the player himself is keen to move on.
“It would be difficult but there are clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea (who could take Messi)," added Calzada.
“Manchester United earned £40m last year so they would be only short around £40m, although that is still a lot of money.
“It would have to be done on a year-on-year basis. The gap between the profit up to the £80m is big, so you need to come up with some very creative ideas to make that revenue.
“They (United) could do it on paper but it is up to Van Gaal and his team if they want to do it and, more importantly, it’s about persuading the player, which I think would be extremely unlikely at this time.”
