Lionel Messi to Chelsea is unrealistic pipe dream amidst Barcelona exit

Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona. The bombshell dropped on the football world by the historic club on Thursday was unexpected to say the least. August 5 was the day the Argentine was supposed to sign his new contract at the Camp Nou. The financials of the extension were impossible to make happen, so now Messi is hitting the open market. Let this be a lesson to all of those crying out for Chelsea to sign Erling Haaland on £500k per week wages. Barcelona is not retaining one of the best footballers of all-time due to its financial recklessness.

Messi has officially been a free agent since July 1, but no club bothered to make a push to sign him due to the fact it was thought to be a foregone conclusion he’d stay at Barcelona. We now know that is not the case and there are undoubtedly some transfer directors calling emergency meetings with their clubs late Thursday night. The Blues are going to be one of the names bounced around in the Messi discussion due to their financial might. Nevertheless, the likelihood of Messi joining Chelsea at this point is slim to none. The latter is more likely, but if football has shown us anything recently, it’s that the impossible can (and sometimes will) happen.

Lionel Messi to Chelsea is an unrealistic pipe dream amidst his Barcelona exit.

The only reason this rumor is even circulating is because of a 2018 interview with Pablo Zabaleta. Zabaleta, a former West Ham and Manchester City player, revealed that Messi used to play as Chelsea on FIFA. Zabaleta claimed that he played the popular footballing video game with the Barcelona superstar when he was a defender at Espanyol. The 11-year Argentinian National Team veteran spent three years at the Spanish club from 2005 to 2008. It’s no wonder why Messi chose to play with those Chelsea sides on FIFA seeing as they were one of the best in the world at the time. Besides, links stemming from mutual respect for a club and one’s video game choices do not necessarily have any legs to stand on.

Messi is now preparing to depart the Catalonian city on a free transfer. His next club will be getting a phenomenal deal on the surface given the lack of a transfer cost. Paris Saint-Germain showed the world just how impactful and efficient free deals can be this summer with the signings of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Georginio Wijnaldum. However, the wages given to these players are other worldly more often than not. The same will go for Messi, who will get astronomical wages. This would simply crumble Chelsea’s delicate wage structure in which it’s worked for so long to perfect. This is perhaps one of the main reasons the Blues won’t shell out a huge sum for Haaland because his weekly pay will be unbelievably high.

In addition to the financial aspect of Chelsea not wanting Messi, there is also no room for him in the side. It feels weird to say that when discussing the best player in the world, but it’s the truth. The Blues are already stacked up front with Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and the expected transfer of Romelu Lukaku will only make the front line that much more crowded. Messi is undoubtedly better than any winger on Thomas Tuchel’s roster at the moment, make no mistake about it. Players like Hudson-Odoi, Mount and Pulisic offer longevity.

The reality of the situation is Messi will not be bringing his talents to Stamford Bridge. He could travel to Chelsea’s famous grounds with Manchester City on September 25, he won’t be donning the Blues’ badge next season though. It’s wishful thinking, but overall, nothing more than an unrealistic pipe dream for supporters.

Where do you think Messi eventually lands? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!