Most valuable free transfer in history: PSG confident signing Messi would be profitable

Paris Saint-Germain are confident signing Lionel Messi would be profitable in the long run and hope to complete a deal within a week, as the PA news agency reports. Barcelona announced on Thursday night that the Argentinian superstar would be leaving the Nou Camp, with financial restrictions preventing them from offering him a new contract.

LaLiga has a salary cap, calculated based on a club’s financial health, which was reduced in November in the wake of the financial pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Barça have been hit hard, making it impossible to offer the six-time Ballon d’Or winner a new contract.

PSG were understood to initially be of the view that a deal could not be done when the announcement came, but sources close to the matter say a direct approach from Messi to PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino later on Thursday changed the dynamic.

PSG believe Messi transfer would be profitable - Reunion with Neymar?

Overnight the French club undertook a commercial analysis and determined that signing Messi would work within the confines of Financial Fair Play rules. The personal connection between Messi and fellow Argentinian Pochettino and the fact the deal is a free transfer are both factors in PSG pursuing the deal.

Messi level with Neymar Record market values on Transfermarkt Click here for overview They believe Messi’s signing would drive up their commercial revenues, both in Europe and in South America should he link up with Brazilian star Neymar, who joined PSG for a world-record fee of €222 million from Barcelona in 2017. The French club had been in contact with Barça earlier in the summer regarding Messi but thought the chance to sign him had passed when it was indicated he would be staying in Catalonia.

With a market value of €80 million, Messi will become the most valuable free transfer in history, surpassing his potential future teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma at the top. PSG had already acquired the services of fellow free agents Georginio Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos ahead of the upcoming season.