Barcelona (AFP)

Resignation in Catalonia: Joan Laporta, president of a financially leaded FC Barcelona, ​​marked the beginning of the "post-Messi era" by acknowledging Friday that he could not retain the Argentinian superstar, who received "other proposals" from clubs.

And appetites are sharpening, from Paris to Manchester City.

In the aftermath of the announcement of the departure of the six-fold Ballon d'Or, which has deeply shaken the world of football and the summer transfer market, aftershocks continue to agitate footballing Europe.

Starting with Barcelona, ​​where the small striker (34) has spent his entire career since the age of 13.

"Drama, Messi is going!", Headlined the Barcelona sports daily Sport on Friday, while Mundo Deportivo, another Catalan sports newspaper, underlines the "bomb" represented by the departure of the "Pulga" (La Puce ).

"This negotiation is over. We can not register the player because of the salary cap of La Liga, and La Liga is not flexible to raise it", launched the Catalan leader, lambasting the "calamitous management of the previous management "led by Josep Maria Bartomeu, his predecessor.

- Messi "not happy" -

And this decision is final, he said.

"I do not want to raise false hopes. The player has other proposals and there was a deadline" for making this decision, one week before the resumption of the Spanish Championship, he argued, criticizing in passing the draft agreement between La Liga and the CVC investment fund, against which Real Madrid and Barça are standing wind.

Megastar Lionel Messi, in FC Barcelona jersey against Basel, November 4, 2008 at Camp Nou Lluis GENE AFP / Archives

Either way, Laporta conceded that the “post-Messi era” would start “two years” ahead of schedule foreseen by the current management.

"We remain motivated for Barca to continue without Messi."

The manager, very close to the Argentine since his first term at the head of the club (2003-2010), wished "the best" to the striker, who left his club forever after winning 35 trophies, including four League champions.

The key dates of the Argentine star at FC Barcelona Vincent LEFAI AFP

But he recognized that the little N.10 "wanted to stay" and had a bad time with this fishtail end.

Messi has yet to speak publicly.

"He's not happy. He had… We all intended and wanted him to stay. But he faces, like us, a reality that cannot be changed. He knows that I wish him and his family the best, wherever they go, ”he concluded.

- Which destination ?

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Towards what destination, then?

In France, the press has begun to echo a possible interest from PSG, which has never hidden its desire to one day attract the six-fold Ballon d'Or, which has finally opened its list with the Argentina by winning the Copa America last month.

Because the clubs that can accommodate him and his staggering salary of several tens of millions of euros per year, are not legion.

Manchester City and its wealthy Emirati owners, or Paris SG owned by the Qatari fund QSI, are among them, while other big clubs have suffered more financially from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lionel Messi with the Copa del Rey after Barça's victory in the final against Athletic Bilbao in Seville on April 17, 2021 Handout RFEF / AFP / Archives

"When you see him leave, it tickles you", had slipped in the fall of 2020 the Parisian sports director Leonardo on Canal +.

Parisian supporters, moreover, did not fail to notice that Messi posed this week for a photo with several PSG players, on vacation like him in Ibiza.

"Lionel Messi at PSG, is it possible? Asks L'Equipe. If the Argentinian represents an incredible opportunity for PSG, his - expensive - recruitment is considered unrealistic internally. To date."

What if Neymar's prophecy came true?

Last December, the Brazilian star of PSG had launched to have "very want to play again with" Messi, whom he rubbed shoulders with four years in Barcelona (2013-2017).

"We have to do it next year," he added, all smiles.

A hug between Barça star Lionel Messi and his Argentinian PSG compatriot Angel di Maria after the Champions League match in Paris, March 10, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

For this, it may be necessary for Paris to rule out competition from Manchester City, whose coach Pep Guardiola led Messi during his best Barcelona years (2008-2012).

This is now the big stake of this summer transfer window, which ends on August 31.

© 2021 AFP