Messi

[Andy_Faber]

Are we shedding tears for him being 'forced' to move from one massively high paying gig to another? In view of our own current issues I have no sympathy with Barcelona having to let him go but if he was that 'loyal' he'd have taken a pay cut, remember this is unimaginible wealth versus slightly more unimaginible wealth.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I still think we missed a trick not recruiting him in that nanosecond window when we had the Sheik's money

talking of the Sheik, did anyone else see the Al Jazeerah "sting" operation concerning Christopher Samuelson (one time director of the Sheik's company in UK) and towards the end of the article, attempts to buy Derby. It clarifies why the whole things fell apart rather neatly

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2...-launder-money

Derby County - Laundry!

[MadAmster]

I've seen several reports here in NL that he was prepared to acceot a 70% drop in wages. He'd still have been on 300K a week. Taken along with the wages of the other players, even that "sacrifice" was insufficient to satisfy La Liga FFP rules.

[swaledale]

I've seen several reports here in NL that he was prepared to acceot a 70% drop in wages. He'd still have been on 300K a week. Taken along with the wages of the other players, even that "sacrifice" was insufficient to satisfy La Liga FFP rules.

Certainly its true he accepted a 50% wage cut in a new deal that was offered, but theres quite a lot that doesn't make sense about this, however Barca are heavily in debt!

[MadAmster]

Certainly its true he accepted a 50% wage cut in a new deal that was offered, but theres quite a lot that doesn't make sense about this, however Barca are heavily in debt!

€1.2Bn of debt.