Thread by @GuillemBalague

A thread with my latest piece for @sport on Messi and his #Barcelona future. (1/15)

You can check out the whole article in Spanish right here: sport.es/es/noticias/op…

The minutes go ticking by as we wait to hear the announcement of a renewal offer for Leo Messi. Certain sections of the media are announcing that he has the club proposal in his hands although the reality is very different. (2/15)

Those that believe that the making up of stories can help to bring about the desired conclusion of him staying fail to understand the doubts that are currently overwhelming Messi. (3/15)

Nobody should forget that for the time being this is where we are: Leo is going to have to be convinced to stay on and how that that is achieved is something that will have to be approached with caution. (4/15)

There are those that believe with the bringing in of Neymar the matter would be resolved. The problem is that the Brazilian has already agreed his renewal at PSG and has said as much in the dressing room. (5/15)

Everything has been sorted out and it could well have been revealed before the Barcelona game except his injury prevented it. L'Equipe has said that it could well be announced before the Champions League semi finals.
(6/15)

But this week I crossed paths with the French club's President, Nasser Al-Kheilafi, who gave two reasons as to why neither Neymar, nor Mbappe were going anywhere, namely, what team could they go to that was better and where could they earn more money?
(7/15)

But also because he doesn't want them to go.

Neymar is already tied up and will stay put, but what of Mbappé ? (8/15)

The agreement between the player and Real Madrid is firm but Al-Keilafi is demanding back what he paid for him - €180 million euros - an unrealistic figure for a player who has just one year left on his contract. (9/15)

OK, he thinks, if no one pays it, he will stay at the French club for a further 12 months during which time he might be able to mull over a lucrative renewal currently on the table of around €30 millions net, something that no other club will be able to offer. (10/15)

Such are the dilemmas that the so called historic clubs that work on a normal basis will find themselves running into now as they attempt to deal with clubs that are owned by a country. (11/15)

By the way, Mauricio Pochettino now has five consecutive rounds in the #UCL and two consecutive semifinals when employed at a club. Could anyone remind me why he can't be Barcelona's manager in the future? (12/15)

Why doesn't the club appropriate him as an asset that could be useful at some point? Or is it perhaps of the 'more than a club' ethos demands someone different, unique, not someone from the 'outside'? A select club indeed. (13/15)

So where does that leave the 'it matters not where we hail from' philosophy that you hear in the anthem? Look how smart they have been at #RMA; Figo, Laudrup, Schuster, Ronaldo had been at #FCB before but they were transformed into #RealMadrid legends. (14/15)

Outsiders that shone at Barcelona yet were welcomed with open arms at Real Madrid while at Barcelona only those that emanate from the same noble lineage are to be deemed to be the chosen few, the only ones worthy of consideration. Is that the right way of thinking? (15/15)

You can check out the whole article in Spanish on @sport right here 👉 sport.es/es/noticias/op…