According to Daily star, sources close to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi insists that Premier League leaders Chelsea are willing to pay his £200m buy-out clause. They also claim that the Blues are willing to meet his wage demands (which could sum upto £200m) for his six-year contract.
In November, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had described stories linking the Premier League leaders with Messi as “obviously not true”, but since the recent meltdown Barcelona have been in, reports in Spain suggest the player is at war with boss Luis Enrique. It was also said that Messi failed to show up for training on Monday, and Enrique failed to deny talk of a rift between the pair during the press conference on Wednesday.
“I neither confirm nor deny those reports. The things that are part of the team always remain in the changing room. I have the same relationship with all my players that I had at the start of the season. That has not changed,” Enrique said.
It has been revealed in Spanish media that there is a power struggle going on between Enrique and Messi, with the player favourite to win the battle. In case, Messi decides to leave the Catalans next year, Chelsea are ready to pounce on him.
Chelsea’s Financial Fair Play will be tested if Messi is willing to join the team at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea owner and Russia’s leading billionaire Roman Abramovich could find a chance to the best player in the world too good to pass up.
It is also understood that a number of senior players are at odds with Enrique. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was sacked following their defeat to Real Sociedad due to the club’s inability to win their appeal against a one-year transfer ban. Zubizarreta’s assistant Carles Puyol too quit his role and left the club in turmoil.