Lionel Messi- Genius!!

[Bender]

BBC
Lionel Messi has agreed a new contract with Barcelona, keeping him at the Spanish club until 2018.
The Argentina international, 25, has enjoyed a record-breaking year for club and country, scoring 90 goals in 2012.

Defender Carles Puyol, 34, and midfielder Xavi Hernandez, 32, have also agreed new deals that will keep them at Barcelona until 2016.
"In the coming weeks Puyol, Xavi and Messi will sign their respective new contracts," the club confirmed.

[Tee]

Crazy thought, but I wonder how much Barca could charge to loan him out for a season. Not that they would ever do it, but imagine £20m to loan him for 6 months say. I haven't been drinking or smoking, honest.

[Bender]

Crazy thought, but I wonder how much Barca could charge to loan him out for a season. Not that they would ever do it, but imagine £20m to loan him for 6 months say. I haven't been drinking or smoking, honest.

no but you've been drinking that jalebi syurp .....imagine what he'd cost if they sold him £100/150 million

[Tee]

no but you've been drinking that jalebi syurp .....imagine what he'd cost if they sold him £100/150 million

But by loaning him say for 6 months at £20-30m (and City or PSG may pay it) they would still keep the player and he would maybe get out of his system that temptation to try something else. It could be a genius move IMO.

[Bender]

But by loaning him say for 6 months at £20-30m (and City or PSG may pay it) they would still keep the player and he would maybe get out of his system that temptation to try something else. It could be a genius move IMO.

sounds good in theory

[destinydude]

T'riffic bump

[Nick77]

This is pretty good too LOL

To be fair Gerrard was the better player at the time.

[Fivex]

The season Messi took over from Ronaldinho where he scored 38 goals in 51 games, winning the treble, the first time this has ever happened in Spanish history?

[Bender]

Lionel Messi's new contract at Barcelona contains a release clause that allows him to leave the Catalan giants for an eye-watering £203million/ €250m

[Fivex]

There's at least one club who'll bid that on January 1st. Not that he'll leave.

[Shaggy]

To be fair Gerrard was the better player at the time.

As if he was

And also lamenting Messi's lack of tackling and defensive skills is clutching at straws somewhat. How are Reina's goalscoring skills?

[Neil Young]

Interesting idea. Jones in goal, Reina to relieve the burden on Suarez. Like it.

[Pedenj]

Lionel Messi's new contract at Barcelona contains a release clause that allows him to leave the Catalan giants for an eye-watering £203million/ €250m

And yet FSG are bidding 12m on Sturridge! We are being conned, get them out. We know owners with the ambition and money to activate this clause.

[ChesterDave]

I think you'd get 1/4 of that back instantly in shirt sales

[Fivex]

And the Europa Cup winners pot will pay for the rest.