Thread by @samleveridge

So, Messi? CVC? Super League?

Today's news has a big impact. Here's a thread explaining why.

Lionel Messi wants to stay at Barcelona. A deal has been almost done.

The issue comes in that they can't register him. LaLiga's wage caps (beyond the financial struggles of FCB) mean that he wouldn't be able to play as the club are way beyond there permitted spending.

That meant that Barcelona HAD to sell.

Antoine Griezmann was the prime candidate as the club's second highest earner. Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanić and others also linked.

But no-one wants to buy them. And they don't want to leave.

Then, it seemed that Barcelona had a knight in shining armour. LaLiga announced a deal with CVC, allowing the investment firm to buy shares in LaLiga in exchange for a big spend which would go, in part, to clubs.

Barcelona would earn around €250 million, with €40 million being permitted to be spent on wages/transfers. That was enough to do some tricks and balance the books.

Yesterday, Messi was almost certain to renew.

Today has been the twist. Reports have come out saying that Joan Laporta wants to stick with the Super League project.

The CVC investment is effectively appeasement for the Super League clubs. But Real Madrid want more money. And now so too, it seems, do Barcelona.

The club's briefing in the media seems to be that a 40-year agreement isn't good for LaLiga clubs, but the story behind the scenes is that this is Super League vs CVC. Barcelona are backing Florentino Pérez and his Super League.

The bigger consequence is that it also means it's Super League vs Messi.

That's a decision that Laporta was never expecting to have to make. And if MARCA are correct, he's made it... In favour of the Super League.

Personally, I wouldn't rule out another twist. The backlash on this, effectively choosing Florentino Pérez over Lionel Messi, will be huge.

Laporta is a man who values public opinion of him highly.

The financial complications are endless, but egos will have a deciding say.