Posted May 4, 200817 yr Chelsea Plan Massive Messi BidChelsea are reportedly preparing an astonishing ?80 million bid for Barcelona star Lionel Messi. The mega-money move would obliterated the previous transfer record of ?46.5 million, set by Real Madrid when they bought Zinedine Zidane from Juventus in 2001. Barcelona have previously insisted that Messi is not for sale, but the magnitude of such an offer could tempt them into rethinking their position - at least that is what the Blues think. This news is just the latest development in Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s grand scheme to re-brand the club in the summer, as it has long been reported that he plan an overhaul of the squad come the end of the season. The Russian billionaire has grown tired with the Blues’ unimaginative football, and manager Avram Grant seems to have convinced Abramovich that heavy investment will be required to bring Chelsea up to the level of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal in terms of flair and creativity. Abramovich seems to have enjoyed the way Lionel Messi ran the show at Old Trafford, where only finishing seemed to be lacking in Barcelona's display, and is convinced that is the brand of football the Blues need to be playing. Indeed, that was why Henk Ten Cate was brought in as well. The Dutchman knows Messi pretty well, and seems to approve of the club's chase of the Argentine. A source close to the club is quoted in The Sun as saying: "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him. "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 has 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." http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=682622 I don't know how true this report is but something in it made me believe it. I am sure it will make you believe it too.
May 4, 200817 yr my god. doubt it will ever happen, but this summers gonna be fun. and if it did happen,
May 4, 200817 yr Chelsea are reportedly planning an astonishing £80million move for Lionel Messi.2007-2008 Barcelona Lionel Messi Billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has authorised the blockbusting swoop for Barcelona's Argentinian superstar, according to the News of the World. Messi showed his brilliance to English fans by performing superbly in Barca's Champions League semi-final clashes with Manchester United. The only man in world football capable of putting Cristiano Ronaldo in the shade could be the subject of a world record-breaking Chelsea bid that would dwarf the £48million that took Zinedine Zidane from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001. Barcelona are desperate to keep Messi, but a world-record bid could force their hand and fund a wholesale renovation of the Camp Nou side. A source close to the deal told the newspaper: "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him. "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 has 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." http://eurosport.yahoo.com/04052008/58/ ... i-bid.html
May 4, 200817 yr sure is a lot of money, messi is good without a doubt, would he hack the premier league though
May 4, 200817 yr wouldn't want to see us spend that sort of money on any ONE player (messi or anyone else for that matter). We can buy 5/6 world class players with £80m and re-build the whole squad (as we are bound to get a few guys leaving Sheva/SWP/Pizza etc)
May 4, 200817 yr £80mil? Absolutely ridiculous! Almost twice as much as Zizou and although Messi is good and Zidane's transfer was about seven years ago so the market has changed, but Messi IS NOT twice as good as Zidane. No one is worth that money. Maybe it would be worth it if you could get a time machine for that money and bring a 17 year old Pele to the club...
May 4, 200817 yr imagine the future: ------------cech------- ---Carvalho---JT---Alex---- Essien----------------A.Cole --Ballack--------Lamps-- --------Messi--------- -----Drogba------Anelka--
May 4, 200817 yr i for one would be delighted if we sign messi he is class. our squad doesnt need 5 or 6 new players it needs one match winner, if we had one ronaldo in our team this year we would have walked it, the only other player i would want is kaka.
May 4, 200817 yr i for one would be delighted if we sign messi he is class. our squad doesnt need 5 or 6 new players it needs one match winner, if we had one ronaldo in our team this year we would have walked it, the only other player i would want is kaka. we don't need 5 players right now, but once a few guys leave we will need to rebuild the depth of the squad. We probably will need a new striker as sheva and pizza are likely to leave. I would also like us to sign a new pacy winger (SWP, Malouda aren't performing and sadly nor is Joey in the last few games). And further re-shuffeling will be needed if the likes of Drogba/Lampard/Bridge decide to go. We don't want to be caught out like we have been before when injuries take its toll. Spending £80m on one player is not an option for me - there is absolutely no guarantee they will become the "match-winners" for us.
May 4, 200817 yr imagine the future:------------cech------- ---Carvalho---JT---Alex---- Essien----------------A.Cole --Ballack--------Lamps-- --------Messi--------- -----Drogba------Anelka-- So you think Messi would be the only change? No chance, the team next season will look radically different from the above.
May 4, 200817 yr Messi is the new golden boy of Barcelona and there is no way that he will leave, Anyway 80 mil ! I mean 30mil for scheva was crazy but 80mil is just all a bit Ted Bundy.....F**CKING CRAZY ! excuse the frenchy
May 4, 200817 yr If there was one player in the world I could choose for us to sign it would be Messi. He would be absolutely brilliant for us. But £80m? You have to be joking. Have had enough of the accusations about us buying success and that sort of price tag is obsene.
May 4, 200817 yr my god. doubt it will ever happen, but this summers gonna be fun. I'll say! The Brits have to do something to fill the time after not qualifiying for the Euros .
May 4, 200817 yr 80 million? As long as Roman can afford it.... His ex-wife might be able to. Valerie - You're right, although I'm hoping we get a bit of business done pre-Euro's so I can adopt a team with a new signing in it
May 4, 200817 yr But you could have messi scoring a goal like Maradona circa 86..check the link. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hokq-7olthE
May 4, 200817 yr I do not think he is tough enough for the EPL. 80 mil is an expensive mistake to make !
May 4, 200817 yr I do not think he is tough enough for the EPL. 80 mil is an expensive mistake to make ! Gotta disagree there he is a little bundle of dynamite,and they don't come much tougher than what he faces in la liga, Torres aint exactly built like Drogs is he??
May 4, 200817 yr Thing is, no one was interested in taking a risk [or could afford to] with Messi when he was up for grabs, except Barcelona. They willingly forked out for his medical bills, showing real belief in him. I can't imagine they'd sell the investment, regardless of the price, or that he would leave the club that had so much faith in him.
May 4, 200817 yr A Spanish journalist was interviewed on the radio this evening about this story. Apparently, according to him, there is some truth in it. However, he reckons the only way we could get Messi is by agreeing to pay his buy-out option. This money is paid to the league rather than the club. The league then re-imburse the club. We pay over and above the contractual buy-out fee, Barcelona are taken out of the equation. The buy-out fee is rumoured to be approximately £110 million sterling.
May 4, 200817 yr i just don't think he'd ever leave barcelona. They basically rescured, gave him the growth hormones, let him train at a top club etc. I mean i admire messi, don't care if anyone has anything against him, but i saw him two years ago and i just knewed he'd be amazing. He could cope with the prem, he has speed & ability, young age, and has expierence in CL. if we get himn, great, if we don't, ok get other players...it's just a rumor though, we'll see if this begins to develop into something real, just heard the other day we're supposedly buying Henry
May 4, 200817 yr I've always opposed the big-signing mentality, but I'm not sure I've been right. I now see that we've bought far too many players for btwn 15 and 25 million quid that have either flopped or not been given a proper chance. Slate me for this, but I actually think that some aspects of the galactico policy work well (that is paying big money for the absolute best and then playing them alongside homegrown talent) and that over the next three to four seasons we will move into a position where our academy will be producing quality players for the first team and so we can afford to make very selective elite buys to build the squad. Surely we would rather have Messi in the squad than Malouda/SWP/Shevchenko (combined cost approx. £70 million) I would be in favour of signing Messi for a big fee (let's say between 40 and 55 million) but NOONE else in the off-season and persisting with the likes of Mikel, Belletti, SWP, Pizarro and other fringe players, rather than offload a bunch of players (who have never really been given a shot) and spending 80 million on 4-5 replacements who, like Malouda and co, may or may not be useful for the side. What this season has proved beyond doubt is that our squad is fantastic, there is no need for major surgery over the summer. Let's splash out for a major young talent like Messi or Kaka, get a real dynamo coach in and we'll be sweet next season, especially with all our England boys getting a good rest.
