Chelsea have been handed a huge boost in their nine-year mission to sign Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old forward faces an increasingly uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain with his contract at Les Parc des Princes set to expire at the end of the season.
Messi was expected to sign a one-year extension with the Parisians but, after winning the World Cup with Argentina in December, it's said that he's had a change of heart. According to Spanish outlet Marca, the Argentine is no longer motivated to win more titles in France or the Champions League again after achieving his 'ultimate dream'.
He's now won every competition that he's participated in and, with nothing left to prove, he'll undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest players of all time. Messi's dramatic 180 has put several clubs on red alert; one whom is believed to be Inter Miami, the MLS outfit owned by David Beckham.
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Barcelona have also been heavily linked with a move for Messi but, due to their financial frailties, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would likely have to lower his salary demands if he were return to Spain. Marca states that PSG want to keep the forward in the French capital but, as it stands, he's set to be available on a free transfer - for Chelsea, among others too - in the summer.
In 2014, Messi almost joined the Blues had negotiations not collapsed at the final stage. He 'secretly' agreed to join the west Londoners eight-and-a-half-years ago for £208million, but the move fell through after his father and agent Jorge Messi found out about the talks between player and club.
Gianluca Di Marzio revealed that Roman Abramovich reached an informal agreement with Messi over a contract. The Russian billionaire reportedly agreed to give the forward a staggering annual wage of $65million (£56.3million) plus 70 per cent of image rights.
And, above all, Messi was reportedly keen on signing said deal. But, after his dad was made aware of the plans by an intermediary, who was angry he was overlooked amid talks, a deal fell through.
Jose Mourinho began his second stint at Stamford Bridge when these proposed talks occurred in private. The Portuguese boss went on to build one of Chelsea's strongest sides which included the likes of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, John Terry - the list goes on.
While Messi doesn't necessarily fit the 'young' rebuild project Todd Boehly is putting together, previous reports have already suggested that the American billionaire is partial to a veteran statement signing, with the Blues linked with Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
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