Priceless Lionel Messi up for grabs
Football legend Lionel Messi is up for grabs and Namibian fans are speculating which club the Argentine superstar will choose.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
The football world is watching in awe as events unfold regarding Barcelona’s Lionel Messi’s request to leave Camp Nou ahead of the new season.
Messi has asked to leave Barca - his only senior club - after a difficult season at Camp Nou in which they failed to win a trophy amid tension between the board and the talismanic forward.
What pushed Messi further down the line is the fact that they were sensationally beaten 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the Uefa Champions League.
Club activation
Because of this and growing tension, the 33-year-old activated the clause in his contract that allows him to terminate his deal and leave the club for free at the end of each season.
Rival clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain Football Club would otherwise have to pay €700 million to release Messi from his contract, a fee that would appear beyond any suitor between the demands of financial fair play and the impact of the global crisis.
Local fans
Barca fans and other Namibians who follow Messi’s career are divided as to whether he should fix matters with the board and stay on at a club which is practically his home, or to leave for a club which is more driven to win.
Former Brave Warriors gaffer Ricardo Mannetti said he would like to see the star at City. “I would like to see a reunion with Pep Guardiola. It will also be really be interesting to see how he will respond to a very different League,” Mannetti added.
Former sports reporter Hector Mawonga shared Mannetti’s sentiments, saying that the player would probably choose City. “He will want to work with Guardiola again considering how well they worked together before. I personally think it is about time he left Barca so that we can see if he really is great or if Barca just made him.”
Kavii Vezemburuka of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s sports desk said there is no better place for Messi than at Barca, “but if it is the end of the project for him, let him go.”
Divided opinion
Another Barca fan, Joy Joyce, said Messi has been loyal to the club and it would be a pity if he is forced to stay on. ‘‘That's us being selfish.’’
Adolf Kaure, another fan, said A Galaxy, or Inter Milan will scoop him.
Stefanus Iiyambo said Messi’s clause is the problem, otherwise he could go to PSG or City. Kafeet Nashilongo advised Messi to go to the Serie A league.
Harry Sem said: “City is reported to be entertaining a possible transfer for him but PSG and Inter Milan are also rumoured to be possible destinations.
“We cannot be certain of him leaving yet, as it could be a power play in motion, especially with the elections around the corner. Messi is not such a fan of the current club president and the decisions taken over the years.”
Jason Antonius said Messi will stay on at Barca.
“He will go to City,” said Langenhoven Wassenaar.
Paul Puxx Katopa said at that price tag no one can afford Messi. “No club in their right mind will buy a 33-year-old player for that price, unless his football career is immortal.”
WINDHOEK
The football world is watching in awe as events unfold regarding Barcelona’s Lionel Messi’s request to leave Camp Nou ahead of the new season.
Messi has asked to leave Barca - his only senior club - after a difficult season at Camp Nou in which they failed to win a trophy amid tension between the board and the talismanic forward.
What pushed Messi further down the line is the fact that they were sensationally beaten 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the Uefa Champions League.
Club activation
Because of this and growing tension, the 33-year-old activated the clause in his contract that allows him to terminate his deal and leave the club for free at the end of each season.
Rival clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain Football Club would otherwise have to pay €700 million to release Messi from his contract, a fee that would appear beyond any suitor between the demands of financial fair play and the impact of the global crisis.
Local fans
Barca fans and other Namibians who follow Messi’s career are divided as to whether he should fix matters with the board and stay on at a club which is practically his home, or to leave for a club which is more driven to win.
Former Brave Warriors gaffer Ricardo Mannetti said he would like to see the star at City. “I would like to see a reunion with Pep Guardiola. It will also be really be interesting to see how he will respond to a very different League,” Mannetti added.
Former sports reporter Hector Mawonga shared Mannetti’s sentiments, saying that the player would probably choose City. “He will want to work with Guardiola again considering how well they worked together before. I personally think it is about time he left Barca so that we can see if he really is great or if Barca just made him.”
Kavii Vezemburuka of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s sports desk said there is no better place for Messi than at Barca, “but if it is the end of the project for him, let him go.”
Divided opinion
Another Barca fan, Joy Joyce, said Messi has been loyal to the club and it would be a pity if he is forced to stay on. ‘‘That's us being selfish.’’
Adolf Kaure, another fan, said A Galaxy, or Inter Milan will scoop him.
Stefanus Iiyambo said Messi’s clause is the problem, otherwise he could go to PSG or City. Kafeet Nashilongo advised Messi to go to the Serie A league.
Harry Sem said: “City is reported to be entertaining a possible transfer for him but PSG and Inter Milan are also rumoured to be possible destinations.
“We cannot be certain of him leaving yet, as it could be a power play in motion, especially with the elections around the corner. Messi is not such a fan of the current club president and the decisions taken over the years.”
Jason Antonius said Messi will stay on at Barca.
“He will go to City,” said Langenhoven Wassenaar.
Paul Puxx Katopa said at that price tag no one can afford Messi. “No club in their right mind will buy a 33-year-old player for that price, unless his football career is immortal.”
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