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A year ago to the day, the planet tipped into total madness. While Lionel Messi’s extension still seemed obvious a few hours before, only conditioned on some financial negotiations, August 5, 2021 saw an earthquake hit Catalonia. From the early morning when Messi had to extend again until the evening when the Pulga became PSG’s priority target, a look back at this totally crazy day that marked the history of football.
In the morning, Messi must extend into the day!
The same morning, Mundo Deportivo like all of the Spanish press showed great confidence in the Lionel Messi file. Despite the Catalan club’s enormous financial difficulties, the promise of a renegotiation of La Liga TV rights (the future controversial agreement with CVC) seems to give the prospect of a good cash flow for Barça. The latest echoes even evoke, this August 5, 2021 in the morning, an extension formalized by President Laporta the same day, with the aim of seeing Lionel Messi present himself at the Gamper trophy the following Sunday …
At noon, a setback due to… a delayed flight
At midday, no Barça supporter has the slightest doubt about Lionel Messi’s extension, still announced as almost complete. Only, the announcement is finally no longer scheduled for August 5. Due to a delay mentioned for the flight of Jorge Messi, father and representative of the Pulga, the timing would be a bit short for a formalization this Thursday. Messi’s extension to Barça is therefore announced the next day, Friday August 6, two days before the Gamper trophy against Juventus on Sunday 8.
Around 6 p.m., the earthquake takes shape
Lionel MessiPhoto credit – Icon Sport
As the afternoon is just ending in Spain, the daily Marca drops the bomb first. Completely contradicting the information of an imminent extension, the Spanish newspaper ensures that the extension of Messi is almost abandoned, the two parties having reached a point of no return in the negotiations. Huge information confirmed by Sport and journalist Gerard Romero. President Joan Laporta has even already turned the page on Lionel Messi, seeing the positive side with a dramatically reduced payroll.
7 p.m., the sports project behind the failure of the extension?
While the rumor of the failure of Messi’s extension spreads from all sides, the Spanish media are already looking for an explanation for this monumental fiasco! RAC1 radio, which reveals its information, does not mention the financial question but assures that the non-extension of Messi would in reality be a question of a sports project. According to the Catalan media, the Pulga would not be convinced by the new sports project presented by Barça for the future, and would therefore have decided not to follow up on the negotiations …
? BOMBA MESSI. Irreversible situation. Leo no renovaría y está más fuera del #Barca what nunca. Los capitanes están informados y al argentino no le gusta la plantilla actual. #barca #messi #jijantesfc #mercato Lo estamos contando en @esportsrac1 @gerardromero
— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) August 5, 2021
7:46 p.m., Lionel Messi officially leaves Barça!
It was shortly before 8 p.m. that the explosion became official. Via a statement of the most succinct in view of the legendary status of Messi, Barça confirms the departure of Messi, putting this announcement on the account of the impossibility of registering the agreement concluded with La Liga for economic reasons.
“Although having reached an agreement between FC Barcelona and Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, it cannot be formalized due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish regulations of La Liga). Faced with this situation, Lionel Messi will not remain linked to FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the Club could not ultimately be granted. Barca would like to wholeheartedly thank the player for his contribution to the expansion of the institution and wish him the best in his personal and professional life. »
ÚLTIMA HORA | Leo Messi no seguirá ligado al FC Barcelona
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) August 5, 2021
8:30 p.m., Manchester City already out of the race and the big favorite PSG?
Very quickly, while Barça supporters are obviously furious at the failure of their legend’s extension, a question comes to mind for all football followers. Where will Lionel Messi continue his career? Manchester City and PSG seem the only two clubs capable of attracting Messi. English journalist Pol Ballus, a specialist in the English club, assures that Manchester City “will not be in the race” for Messi. It is quite the opposite that is taking shape on the side of Paris. Loic Tanzi, at the time an RMC journalist, assures that seeing Messi land in the French capital is “quite possible”.
9:06 p.m., Barça offers a worthy tribute to Messi
1h20 after a statement of the most lapidary to settle the contractual situation of Lionel Messi and confirm his departure from Barça, the Catalan club offers a tribute worthy of the name to the Pulga for his departure. The Catalan club has indeed published a tribute video to retrace Messi’s finest exploits in the Catalan jersey. Video that obviously explodes social networks…
Gracias, Leo pic.twitter.com/zQDFiDUK47
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) August 5, 2021
In the evening, a speech by Laporta announced
Of course, Barça supporters are now awaiting explanations from the Catalan club regarding the departure of the icon Lionel Messi. No one but President Joan Laporta himself could step up to the front to respond to this earthquake. A press conference is announced the next day, Friday August 6 at 11 a.m.
Find the full press conference of Joan Laporta by clicking here!
A like from Neymar makes people talk, negotiations have started at PSG!
Lionel Messi and NeymarPhoto credit – Icon Sport
Inevitably, the football planet is racing after the announced departure of Lionel Messi, and a like on Instagram is heavy with meaning. A montage showing Neymar in the arms of Messi with PSG jerseys is liked by … Neymar himself!
? Neymar liked this post on Instagram… we are very close to a historic transfer? pic.twitter.com/t2OMR2HyUZ
— La Cabane Paname (@LaCabanePaname) August 5, 2021
The Brazilian number 10 would also be at the center of the negotiations in a file which would have already started. A good hour after Barça’s official announcement, DAZN Brazil journalist Fernando Campos reveals that discussions have already been launched between the Messi clan and PSG, with Neymar as a potential key element of the discussions!
Uma fonte acaba de passar me que Lionel Messi já está negociando diretamente com o PSG e ambos estão tentando costurar um acerto financeiro. Neymar faith crucial na aproximação eo gênio argentino pode viajar para Paris em breve para finalizar o acordo. Agora é aguardar.
— Fernando Campos (@FCamposoficial) August 5, 2021
Messi announced as shot, a crazy day ends …
In a few hours, Lionel Messi saw his sporting and personal life change in unimaginable ways. La Pulga is forced to leave Barcelona and is already experiencing this as a trauma. According to the Catalan daily Sport, Lionel Messi would be totally devastated by this hasty departure, and the end of a 21-year history of having played his last match with Barça in an empty stadium. While a new adventure is already taking shape for the Argentine legend, Messi is the first to be affected by this earthquake which will have marked the football planet forever…
to summarize
A year ago to the day, Barça officially announced that Lionel Messi would not sign a new contract. An earthquake that preceded his arrival at PSG. Throwback to this incredible day of August 5, 2021!
