This Club Is Leading Messi Race, And Leo Has Already Called Their Coach

Barcelona's big announcement on Thursday that captain Lionel Messi would be exiting the La Liga club set Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) scrambling to figure out if it could sign the most desired free agent in the history of football.

As per The Associated Press, Messi called PSG coach and compatriot Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday.

The newspaper said its source disclosed that PSG is assessing the potential revenue that could be generated by acquiring Messi, while also remunerating him a massive salary and complying with the sport's fiscal policies.

AllNews understands that PSG is one of the few clubs in the world that can afford the 34-year-old's salary.

There is still a chance Messi stays at Barca though. The development concerning him leaves open the possibility of the exit announcement being reversed if Barcelona can convince La Liga to back off. But Barcelona's debts exceed 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 million), a plight not caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, but worsened by the lack of revenue from empty stadiums on top of years of financial problems.

Messi helped Barca win the UEFA Champions League (UCL) four times, the Spanish league 10 times, the Copa del Rey seven times and the Spanish Super Cup eight times. Today, he is widely considered among the best of all-time.

If PSG was to sign him, he would be reunited with former Barcelona forward and close pal Neymar. He would also be the latest free arrival at the French giants this term, following goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. Like Messi, their contracts expired at AC Milan, Real Madrid and Liverpool, respectively.