Chelsea – and other potential suitors – have been given fresh hope of signing Lionel Messi. The 35-year-old forward faces an increasingly uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain for various reasons, and he's already been heavily linked with moves to some of the world's richest clubs.
Messi sees his contract in the French capital expire at the end of the season, making him a free agent in the summer. While the Argentina international is yet to commit his long-term future to the Parisians, it seems as if he has burned his bridges with PSG.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has recently been suspended by the French giants for going on a trip to Saudi Arabia without the club's permission. According to Sky Sports, Messi asked for permission from PSG to travel to the country, which he did on Sunday, after having already postponed the venture twice, but he was not given the green light.
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As a result, the Argentine has been suspended for two games and fined two weeks' wages following a meeting with higher-ups at PSG. With Messi expected to be looking for a new club in the summer, Barcelona have emerged as the obvious favourites to wrap up a deal.
However, La Liga president Javier Tebas has explained how the Catalan side will be able to afford Messi despite the club's financial restrictions. Speaking to Spanish publication AS, Tebas said: "Barcelona are going to sell players for good amounts. Their plan is going that way.
"The best players stay in Spain and they say that Leo wants to return to Spain, and it will have to be for less money than at PSG. They have their strategy to sign more players.
"I don't know if it’s the right thing to do, but if they've managed to have that revenue, they've been able to spend more on players," Tebas added. "We discussed the consequences of the documentation received with the club.
"Until they see their plan is done, they will continue to exceed it. Here we don't look at whether they bring him in for Messi or Mbappe. We tell them that they have so much money to sign."
It's said that Messi almost joined Chelsea eight-years ago for £208million. According to Sky Sports' Gianluca Di Marzio, Roman Abramovich reached an informal agreement with the forward over a contract.
But the move collapsed after his father was reportedly made aware of the plans by an intermediary, who was angry he had been squeezed out of the negotiations.
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