GettyLionel Messi is being lined up for a sensational transfer to Chelsea, after the Stamford Bridge club had talks with the player’s father recently.
Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona, but is reportedly unhappy with the lack of support he received during his trial for tax evasion, which resulted in him being sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Roman Abramovich has been watching the situation closely, and allegedly met with Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent, on his yacht recently, to discuss a potential world record transfer.
Yep, silly season has begun with a bang.
PA ImagesThe ‘talks’ took place on the Russian’s yacht, the Eclipse, which is the second largest in the world and cost £1.5bn – so any thoughts that Abramovich might not be able to afford Messi are wide of the mark.
Manchester City are also thought to be keen on the former Argentina captain, but Chelsea are leading the chase, and are willing to offer a £110m transfer fee and wages of a staggering £800,000 per week.
PA ImagesIt was always thought that Messi would stay at the Camp Nou until retirement, but the news regarding the tax trial and also the fact that Barcelona haven’t offered a new contract to the 29-year-old, could be the perfect storm for Chelsea.
That being said, many prominent Spanish journalists and sources close to the player and Barcelona have shot down the rumours, which as we know, have done the rounds time and time again at this time of year.
However in football, you should never say never, and stranger things have happened.
Maybe we’ll finally get the answer to the age old question – could Messi do it on a rainy Tuesday night in Stoke?
