Speaking on his Youtube channel, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has backed Chelsea to make an offer for Lionel Messi next summer.
The Blues have been backed to make their move if the Argentine great does not extend his contract at Barcelona. The 33-year-old is in the final year of his contract and can talk to other clubs from January.
“Chelsea, definitely in the equation if Messi becomes available. All that is true.”
Messi was keen to leave the club earlier in the summer. However, the Catalans refused to budge on the player’s mammoth release clause of £630million.
Interestingly, it will not be the first time that we have been linked with the footballing genius.
According to Sky Italy’s Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t Sky Sports), Chelsea were close to signing Lionel Messi in 2014. The Blues were ready to activate the Argentine’s mammoth €250m release clause and also pay him a net wage of £50m per season.
Then manager Jose Mourinho had a video call with Messi and successfully persuaded him to make the switch to Stamford Bridge. However, the involvement of Messi’s father, agent Jorge and former Chelsea star Deco saw the deal collapse.
Seven years on, we could actually return for the 33-year-old. He has scored just six goals in 11 appearances this season. It is a testament to his ability that averaging just over a goal every game is considered a bad season.
It would be fair to assume that Manchester City are the favourites to land him if he leaves Barcelona. With Pep Guardiola set to stay on at the club, bringing in Messi would reunite the duo who brought Barcelona so much success.
While signing Messi would be a deal of a lifetime, he is someone Chelsea can live without.
We currently have a young team that is capable of holding its own. Rather than look at the past, we are better off aiming for the future.
It makes no sense for us to cater our system to suit Messi. We are better off investing in a player who contributes to the system than the other way around.
Chelsea recently loaned Jadon Sancho on a season long load deal from Manchester United. (with an obligation to buy)
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