Barcelona President Joan Laporta has sent a message to Paris saint Germain duo Messi and Neymar over a possible transfer to the Catalan Giant. According to Laporta Barcelona are willing to sign these to Legends on a free transfer.
Neymar signed for Paris Saint Germain for a record 200 million euros. Paris Saint Germain is believed to have put the Brazilian superstar on the transfer market after tying Kylian Mbappe to a new deal at the Parc des Princes.
Messi left Barcelona last season after spending 21 years at the Club. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner left on a free transfer after Barcelona was not able to extend his contract because of Barcelona’s huge wage bill.
The two formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez. the Messi, Suarez, and Neymar partnership is seen as one of the greatest trio in the history of world football.
However, Laporta believes it will be difficult to snatch these superstars from the Paris Saint Germain after each player agrees on a bumper deal with the Club.
What did Laporta say?
On Neymar being listed on the transfer market by Paris Saint Germain, Laporta told L’Esportiu de Catalunya: “Who doesn’t love Neymar? He is an exceptional player.
“He has a contract with PSG, he has four or five years left. These players who have signed for clubs like PSG have almost signed their slavery. For money.”
He added: “Messi has gone. We would all have liked him to end his sporting life here and for whatever reason, he has not been able to.
“It could not be because of the fair play [rules] of the Spanish league and the proposal of PSG. These players, when they enter a dynamic like this, find that they cannot leave because the operations are many millions of euros.
“You tell me, in the case of Neymar: I don’t know how they do it in France, because maybe they have other systems that we don’t have here, but canceling a system that is signed in advance costs a lot of money.
“It is also true that PSG has a state behind them, they have a lot of money and maybe they can make an advance payment to terminate such a contract.”
Joan Laporta also went further to explain that the only means Barcelona can sign these players are on a free transfer.
He continued: “Should Neymar come for free? All these players [possibly] coming back to Barca one day should come for free. We are not in a position to make a purchase transaction which can cost a transfer [fee] for these players.
“But even if we had the funds, we wouldn’t do it. It would be irrational. If they are players who are free and are in the market, then they are of exceptional quality and we have already enjoyed them at Barca.
“Then it would be a matter for the coach to think about whether or not they can fit into the new Barca project. As players, I like both of them very much.”
Meanwhile. Laporta has blasted Paris Saint Germain following the Mbappe contract saga.
He said: “This distorts the market. Players end up being kidnapped for money. These are the effects of a club having a state behind it. This goes against all the principles of the European Union.
“It is a reflection on the sustainability of football in Europe. Then there is the reading that can be done from Barca.
“There is a direct rival who does not come out stronger and we prefer that they cannot make us squirm when it comes to competing. But I’m left with the reflection on the sustainability of football.
“Because I don’t think we should care so much about a rival either. We have to worry about having a competitive team, which is what we are trying to do.
“It has been seen that when we have cared more about ourselves than our rivals, things have gone well.”
