According to The Telegraph !
Chelsea to launch £80m bid for Lionel Messi
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Last Updated: 12:20pm BST 04/05/2008
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Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has authorised manager Avram Grant to make an £80 million bid for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, according to reports.
# Patrick Barclay: Cold War derby is a £50m capital offence
# Gareth A Davies: How will fans get to Moscow?
# Chelsea homepage
The News of the World suggests that the Barca board are split on whether to sell or not, considering the huge amount of money on offer.
Chelsea to launch £80m bid for Lionel Messi
Record: The wages on offer by Chelsea could lure Lionel Messi from Barcelona to Stamford Bridge
Should Messi move to Stamford Bridge it will shatter the current world transfer record of £46.5m that Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Abramovich is adamant that Chelsea must start playing attractive, attacking football and was rumoured to have lined up a swoop for Ronaldinho, before the Brazilian's sudden dip in form.
Messi, however, has shone for Barcelona, and even outplayed Cristiano Ronaldo during his club's Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
A source close to the proposed deal is quoted as saying: "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him.
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"He has always wanted that type of player. Under Jose Mourinho he accepted the football because it was bringing in the trophies, but he got bored.
"Grant wants to change things but explained it takes time and a lot of money to alter the style. Now is the time for Roman to finance that change.
"Chelsea are attractive because of the wages on offer, and they are in the Champions League final."
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Last Updated: 12:20pm BST 04/05/2008
Have your say Read comments
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has authorised manager Avram Grant to make an £80 million bid for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, according to reports.
# Patrick Barclay: Cold War derby is a £50m capital offence
# Gareth A Davies: How will fans get to Moscow?
# Chelsea homepage
The News of the World suggests that the Barca board are split on whether to sell or not, considering the huge amount of money on offer.
Chelsea to launch £80m bid for Lionel Messi
Record: The wages on offer by Chelsea could lure Lionel Messi from Barcelona to Stamford Bridge
Should Messi move to Stamford Bridge it will shatter the current world transfer record of £46.5m that Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Abramovich is adamant that Chelsea must start playing attractive, attacking football and was rumoured to have lined up a swoop for Ronaldinho, before the Brazilian's sudden dip in form.
Messi, however, has shone for Barcelona, and even outplayed Cristiano Ronaldo during his club's Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
A source close to the proposed deal is quoted as saying: "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him.
advertisement
"He has always wanted that type of player. Under Jose Mourinho he accepted the football because it was bringing in the trophies, but he got bored.
"Grant wants to change things but explained it takes time and a lot of money to alter the style. Now is the time for Roman to finance that change.
"Chelsea are attractive because of the wages on offer, and they are in the Champions League final."
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