Lionel Messi’s £500,000-a-week wages ‘may prove too expensive even for super-rich PSG’

Lionel Messi ‘may prove too expensive for even super-rich Paris Saint-Germain’ if the Argentine star does move away from Barcelona this summer.

Messi, 33, would be available to sign on a free transfer because his contract expires at the end of June but his £500,000-a-week wages could prove prohibitive for potential suitors.

However, reports elsewhere suggest that a deal could become affordable if Kylian Mbappe leaves in the summer.  

The Argentine star is likely to leave Barcelona in the summer when his contract expires

PSG sporting director Leonardo has made clear his club’s interest in signing Messi if he decides to leave Barcelona but his ambition could come up against hard economic reality. 

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, PSG’s owners, Qatar Sports Investments, have their doubts about whether they could afford him.

That’s despite PSG being ranked as the fifth wealthiest club in world football on the latest Deloitte list with a value of around £560million. Messi’s current club Barcelona top the 2020 list with a value of just over £740m.

While funds would be available from Doha for the project, PSG are wary of breaking UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.

However, according to Spanish newspaper Sport, Messi could be brought in if Mbappe, who has been linked with Real Madrid and been reluctant to sign a new deal at the Parc des Princes, exits in the summer. 

Sport’s front page on Wednesday ran with the headline ‘Messi for Mbappe.’

It added: ‘The Parisian team plans to press for the signing of Leo after the hesitance of Mbappe to renew.

Spanish newspaper Sport reported that PSG could possibly afford Messi if Mbappe leaves

Mbappe has shown a reluctance to sign a new deal at PSG amid interest from Real Madrid

‘The french side say they can only keep two big stars in their squad in line with financial fair play.’

The French champions have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and matches being played behind closed doors, as well as the collapse of the Ligue 1 television deal.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he once came close to working with a teenage Messi when he was Espanyol manager. The club may have taken him on loan but an excellent display in a pre-season fixture persuaded Barcelona to bring Messi into the first-team fold.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t drawn on the Messi rumours when asked this week

‘Messi to PSG? No comment. When I was at Espanyol or Southampton, my dream was to have the best players at the club and Messi came close to being loaned out to Espanyol,’ Pochettino told El Larguero.

‘The deal was well advanced but he delivered a great display at the pre-season Trofeo Gamper and that was the end of that.

‘We’ve met over the years in places such as London or Italy. We both share the love for Newell’s, as we both came through their academy and that is our common bond.’

PSG’s board, including president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, have reportedly expressed doubts on their ability to afford Messi 

Pochettino was reluctant to speak out of turn about the chances of Messi moving to Paris.

‘I’m aware of all that is going on [with Messi]. I’ve been watching everyone from West Ham to Valladolid and these days you need to keep your eyes on every team,’ he added.

‘I really don’t want to talk about Messi as everything then gets blown out of proportion.’

Earlier this week, Leonardo said the French giants have a ‘place reserved’ at the table for Messi.

PSG chief Leonardo says the club have a ‘place reserved’ at the table for Lionel Messi

Leonardo admitted that ‘great players like Messi’ are always on PSG’s transfer targets list

‘Great players like him will always be on PSG’s list,’ he admitted in an interview with France Football.

‘Now is not the time to discuss or even dream it. We are seated at the table of those keeping tabs on it. In fact, not seated, but with a place reserved – just in case. Four months is a long time.’

Messi has scored 14 goals and contributed six assists in 22 matches for Barcelona so far this season.