“It was really a done deal for Messi to extend with Barcelona” - Fabrizio Romano explains ‘insane’ turnaround in Lionel Messi transfer saga
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona was the most dramatic saga he had covered. The Italian journalist stated that Messi had signed the contract extension, but La Liga rule forced the club to change plans.
Speaking to Rising Ballers' YouTube channel, Romano claimed that he had proof that the contract extension was signed. However, things changed and Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, conveyed the forced decision to Messi in a meeting. He said:
“The most dramatic saga has been Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona for sure. I still remember that story was insane because, trust me, it was really a done deal for Messi to extend his contract with Barcelona. Messi was in Barcelona in the morning to sign the contract, coming back from holidays after the Copa America. Even the official announcement was ready and scheduled for 8 PM at Barcelona. I have all the proof behind this big story of him extending the contract."
“Then I remember the feeling of what happened in the afternoon around 4 PM, when Messi meets with president Laporta and they tell him, ‘we can’t proceed because of financial fair play. We don’t have the green light from La Liga, and the only way is for you to leave the club.' Imagine the shock, those 4-5 hours at the Barcelona headquarters was crazy. Messi was Barcelona and that moment was really insane," Romano added.
Lionel Messi became a free agent in 2021 and moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) a few days later. The Argentine stayed with the Ligue 1 side for two seasons before moving to Inter Miami.
Sergio Aguero revealed how much Lionel Messi was waiting to post Barcelona contract extension
Sergio Aguero talked about Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona on his Twitch channel back in 2023. He stated that Lionel Messi was eager to post his contract extension news on social media. The Argentine kept a shirt of the Catalan side in his locker and was asking his teammate to take a photo with the shirt.
He said (via Juego Simple):
“During the Copa América, Messi had a Barça shirt in our room. Once every three days he'd say: ‘I think they renewed my contract, you're going to have to take me a picture with it for the official announcement’. And every time we were ready, they told him, not yet."
Lionel Messi was reportedly open to joining Barcelona in 2023 after his PSG contract expired but the Catalan side were still reeling from financial issues and thus, he moved to Inter Miami.