Inside Lionel Messi-PSG contract negotiations and how Barcelona managed to lose their superstar
CBSN
In a special Here We Go insider notebook, we give a behind-the-scenes look on how Messi got away from Barca
Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona, marking the end of an era in the sport and the partnership between the Catalan giants and the Argentine superstar. If we put on the magnifying glass and examine the behind-the-scenes developments that led to Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona, what you'll find is a star in a state of shock. Messi had his Barcelona contract ready to put pen to paper as of last Thursday at the Camp Nou and did not anticipate the incredible U-turn on his situation. Even Barça had schedule a special announcement for Thursday at 8:45 p.m., with the two parties ready to announce to the world a contract renewal until June 30, 2026 with the Blaugrana side. Instead, what we got was the two parties still blocked by La Liga rules what was a concluded and completed agreement. When the news reached Messi and his father Jorge Messi, they were described as surprised, amazed and even incredulous. But they appreciated the honesty of Barça president Joan Laporta, who communicated to them that they could no longer put up a fight to keep his wages at the club based on these rules, as Messi confirmed Sunday morning in what was a surreal farewell press conference at Camp Nou. Indeed, there's still excellent relations but bittersweet disappointment for not being able to continue this partnership together for a few years as planned.More Related News