June 1st, 2022

The 2021-22 season has been tough for many people, not to mention even the GOAT himself. After last summer’s drama, Messi has recorded 11 goals and 14 assists in all competitions since his move to Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint Germain. At this point, I think it is important we go into the details of what exactly happened last summer that forced Messi to walk out of his boyhood club. Summer of 2021, the season has just ended and Barcelona’s situation is looking dire. Most of the players have undergone a wage cut, just to keep the club from falling into ruin. The club’s former president Josep Bartomeu has been arrested for contacting the media and spreading rumors about Messi. There is rumor that the club has been failing to pay the players’ wages after most of them took a pay cut. There was rumor that Messi was going to leave Barcelona because they didn’t have the money to secure a new deal with him.

When the move was looking inevitable, a few Spanish sources reported that Barcelona had found a new way to sort out their financial situation and are imminent to secure a new deal with Messi. The reported format of the deal was that there was a two-year player option and three years as Barcelona ambassador and the club would pay the two years’ worth of wages across the span of five years. The format would allow Barcelona to relieve the clubs’ financial pressure whilst keeping their star player. However, not long after, reports said that although Messi was open to the deal, the LaLiga salary cap rule prohibited the deal from progressing.

The Laliga salary cap is where LaLiga limits clubs from using more than 70% of its previous season’s revenue on player wages. The rule itself was implemented to prevent clubs from going bankrupt. However, Barcelona, not being able to make it to the tournament stage of the Champions League, recorded a loss in revenue, which brought down the salary cap. It is said that Messi was willing to cut his wages by 70%. However, as the Spanish Law prohibits an employee from earning less than 50% of what they earned last year, this too turned out to be unsuccessful.

In the end, there was no way both sides could come to an agreement and it was confirmed in a press conference that Messi, after 21 years at the club, would not be seen playing in Blaugrana colors the following season.

Since his move to Paris, the press has been critical of his performance in Ligue 1, which is considered one of the more rural leagues in European football. However, despite him having a “disappointing season”, Messi has managed to record 11 goals and 14 assists across 34 games which would be considered an exceptional season for other players.

In a recent interview, the Argentinian star has expressed his desire to come back to his best next season which will be crucial in PSG’s endeavor toward European success.