2019/2020 Forwards Rumours Thread

Has there been another top player that was rumored to join a specific team only over and over again?
I mean Man Utd allegedly wanted Maldini and Zanetti but that was bullshit as they rarely went for world class players from strong teams (Veron was probably the only exception), but that had nothing to do with the player's environment either. And then you also had Zanetti to Real Madrid or Barcelona rumours as well, it wasn't exclusive over time. Just like us with Sanchez. He made several transfers and he was always linked with us, but also with Milan, Juventus, Man City, Atletico Madrid etc

Messi was rumored to Inter since he was 16. In his first ever double interview with Ronaldinho he was talking about their friendship and what stuck at the time was that they played PES against each other, Ronaldinho took Barcelona while Messi always picked Inter.

With Messi I honestly haven't seen any other club be linked with him for a move so much. Since 2006 it's been "Messi to Inter?" as if it's some inevitable fate. And if FFP never happened, we'd probably see this as Barcelona's dominance would have been cut short before the mid 2010s while Inter wouldn't lose a decade of top football. He's close to his retirement age now but it still feels like a possibility. If we didn't have Conte, I'd truly believe that he'd be coming, but I see this as an obstacle. Messi in the 3-5-2 that Conte plays just seems much more out of touch than Messi with an Inter jersey.

He should stay at Barcelona but if Bartomeu wins the election I see him pushing a move. And Inter seems like a no brainer for him. Where else would he go?

At the end of the day, the true and biggest obstacle for Messi to play for us, or for another team, is Messi himself.

He doesn't really want to leave, and he probably feels he can't.

He feels an obligation for the team who bought him when he was a tween and paid for his hormonal therapy (he had a deficiency of growth hormones if I recall correctly); he feels he would betray Barcelona's supporters, and even more he feels he would betray his own image of a one team player, and the image of Barcelona legend.

And in my opinion, there is also some genuine lack of courage of trying himself in a different context than the comfortable Barcelona, where he is the king.

He could leave Barca for free next season, he would simply have to give notice by the end of may. But I believe he's just pushing for bartomeu to not be re-elected.

So, in my opinion, there's a window of opportunity only if bartomeu ends up staying as the president of the club, in which case Messi would probably feel he has a moral right to leave, without passing as a traitor.

Guardiola's City is another destination. There's even more money to be made now as UEFA gave them a free pass regarding FFP. But they play in EPL and I have my concerns how well Messi can fit to that football, ESPECIALLY at this age.

Calcio as the slower football would fit him perfectly to end his top career. Of course what firmino said about the image of one club player, being the king and that stuff is a bigger reason to stay. He comes to Inter who's lead by Conte and it might be a rude awakening for him (+ playing with Candreva and Gagliardini).

Money could be an obstacle but if Suning is for real, he will find the funding to have Messi in his team, I have zero doubts about that.

But yeah, elections will have a big impact though I feel it's still not 100% if Bartomeu is changed, Messi stays.

Why, what’s going with Bartomeu and Messi? They don’t like each other or what?

InterFCAustin said:

Why, what’s going with Bartomeu and Messi? They don’t like each other or what?

Click to expand...

https://en.as.com/en/2020/07/04/football/1593849553_976013.html

"Messi in no mood to humour Bartomeu as tension grows
Neymar, 'Barçagate', Valverde, problems with salary cuts during the pandemic. A series of issues stemming with the president have contributed to Messi's frustration."

Yes, Messi is pissed how the club is run (lot of Barcelona fans probably feel the same way). And there's been a lot of shit going on behind the scenes, for example Barcelona hiring a social media company to create criticism towards people around Barcelona, including Messi.

In my view, it seems that Barcelona is in a tough spot. Messi is at his prime, or at his effective years still so they kind of need to use those few years (rebuild => Messi leaves pretty certainly). But they don't seem to have money to push for it truly, because Bartomeu management has completely bottled their position in the mercato by using hundreds of millions for players they can't really use effectively (Coutinho, Dembele, Griezmann). They can't get rid of them without taking huge losses which would hamper their position in the mercato again.

They need some kind of change, but not sure what it should be really. Letting Messi go would be a massive PR loss so they cannot do that willingly (so only if Messi definitely wants to go). That would release big amount of money but would probably decrease some sponsorship money too.

do we smell some plusvalenza?!?!?! (JK)

Clearly this forum is bored

ADRossi said:

Clearly this forum is bored

Click to expand...

lol maybe, but... what the heck, why not?

We are BUU. Give BUU the fucking thread that they deserve. #messi2020

Let's try to get Belotti dang it! Enough of talk of Dzeko and Giroud. Give them Gags, Mario, Dalbert, Vecino and cash.

we dont even try for cavani?
i know his wage is crazy, but he's free, and with the new tax rule,
the cost should be almost equal with dzeko or giroud (both whos club isnt willing to sell)

Ethor said:

Let's try to get Belotti dang it! Enough of talk of Dzeko and Giroud. Give them Gags, Mario, Dalbert, Vecino and cash.

Click to expand...

Dzeko doesn't seem to be a bad signing. What do we lose by signing an experienced serie a test player? But his contract should be short term and wages have to be reasonable. Belotti doesn't seem to be better than Dzeko in any thing except he costs a lot more and somewhat slower than Dzeko.

Palacio said:

Dzeko doesn't seem to be a bad signing. What do we lose by signing an experienced serie a test player? But his contract should be short term and wages have to be reasonable. Belotti doesn't seem to be better than Dzeko in any thing except he costs a lot more and somewhat slower than Dzeko.

Click to expand...

But Dzeko is 34!

Palacio said:

Dzeko doesn't seem to be a bad signing. What do we lose by signing an experienced serie a test player? But his contract should be short term and wages have to be reasonable. Belotti doesn't seem to be better than Dzeko in any thing except he costs a lot more and somewhat slower than Dzeko.

Click to expand...

Candreva and zarate were all "experienced serie a test player(s)"

brehme1989 said:

But Dzeko is 34!

Click to expand...

How did our 23 year old striker fare in the second half of the season? I am sure you would start Dzeko ahead of him if you were the coach. in addition, he is still four years younger than Zalatan (who is doing much better than Lautaro) and plays better than Valero and Valero is untouchable at Inter.

Say what you want about Suning, but goddamn do they know how to effectively market Inter

https://twitter.com/_FedeNerazzurra/status/1288025483720843265?s=20

It's a sign that we will sell Lautaro, giving his number away like that

How is this a bad thing? Messi is Messi.

They removed that pic for this one really quick... They just trolling

Sent from my BLA-L29 using Tapatalk