PSG pressuring Lionel Messi over summer transfer switch
The French club are hoping to reunite the Argentine with his friend Neymar
PSG have been a consistent enemy for Barcelona in recent years, from stealing Neymar to refusing to let Verratti and Thiago Silva, among others, go to Camp Nou. Now they are after Lionel Messi.
Their assault for the Argentine star has started with a strategy of public pressure. Leonardo, the club’s sporting director, was the first in manifesting his desire of the player in public. Coach Mauricio Pochettino has also admitted Messi is PSG’s big dream.
It’s all in public so Messi feels wanted, and, at the same time, pressured. They want the player to bit by bit think Paris is his main option after Barcelona.
PSG used a similar strategy to bring Neymar. They spoke about him in public and ended up bringing him in for 222 million euros. With Messi, they can get him without a transfer fee when his contract ends on June 30.
There’s nothing casual about the timing. Leo is now free to negotiate with other clubs ahead of the summer. Also, PSG face Barca in the Champions League last 16. They want to unbalance the Catalans while luring Messi.
Leo has not spoken to any PSG chiefs and does not intend to, though. He wants to make his decision at the end of the season. Right now he doesn’t want to spend energy on anything other than football.
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