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| a rare breed |
Messi's recent statement in which he hinted at the possibility of him leaving the club has set off alarm bells at 'Can Barça'.
However, what he wants is one thing, and the realities of football are another.
Prising the Argentine away from Barcelona would be no easy feat, especially after he signed a new deal with the club this summer worth a cool 20m euros per season after tax. Any deal to sign the striker would depend on a number of factors, but would in any case cost upwards of 400m euros.
A deal would first have to be agreed with Barcelona, something unlikely given that the president who sold him would go down in club history, possibly for all the wrong reasons. A transfer fee could be agreed at around 150m euros, plus the player's salary. Leo costs 50m euros per season before tax, a total of 250m euros over five seasons. That's if Leo agrees to a change of scenery without a pay rise.
Very few clubs could offer that kind of money; in fact, only two.
Manchester City: It was never really on the cards and even less so now the Argentine has signed a new deal. Soriano isn't going to break the bank.
PSG: They are not short of money. Their problem would be not breaching FIFA Fair Play Regulations, especially after their problem over the summer.
