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Messi casts doubts over future again

ZURICH — UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations could work in Manchester United’s favour should they decide to pursue Lionel Messi, after the Barcelona star cast doubt over his future.

Lionel Messi (left)says he is not sure where he will be next year. Photo: AP

Lionel Messi (left)says he is not sure where he will be next year. Photo: AP

ZURICH — UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations could work in Manchester United’s favour should they decide to pursue Lionel Messi, after the Barcelona star cast doubt over his future.

A report by The Guardian said the Argentinian had alerted Manchester United to his potential availability after admitting doubts over his future at Barcelona at the FIFA Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Zurich yesterday morning — when he was pipped for a second successive year to receive the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award by Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I am not sure if I will go back to Newell’s Old Boys one day. I am not sure where I will be next year,” said Messi in response to a question about whether a return to his boyhood club in Argentina would be a possibility.

“I have always said I want to end my career at Barcelona, but as Cristiano said, ‘Only God knows the future.’ Especially in football where things can change overnight.”

United, who are not affected by UEFA’s FFP regulations — introduced by European football’s governing body to prevent clubs from spending more than what they earn to avoid financial difficulty — are thought to be the only English club with the resources to court Messi, whose current deal, which expires in 2018, contains a buyout clause worth €250 million (S$394.4 million).

The 20-time English league champions’ 10-year deal with German sportswear giant adidas, worth a record £750 million (S$1.5 billion), or £75 million a season, begins next season. Together with their global fanbase of more than 650 million, it may help United finance a move for Messi should they decide to do so, reported The Guardian.

However, it is unclear if United and Messi have made contact on a possible move. Spanish giants Real Madrid and French side Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be the only other clubs with the financial capability to pursue the four-time World Player of the Year.

Nonetheless, Messi’s comments at yesterday’s FIFA Ballon d’Or awards come after he told Barcelona’s in-house TV channel on Sunday that he had no intention of leaving the Catalan giants as he attempted to downplay an alleged spat with coach Luis Enrique. The 27-year-old has long been linked with moves to United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, who were fined £49 million last year for breaking financial regulations, and Chelsea. But it would be difficult for either to cough up the required money to prise him from the Camp Nou without falling foul of FFP regulations.

Last week, Chelsea ruled themselves out of the running for Messi should he decide to quit Barcelona.

“This club conforms with financial fair play. We’ve brought one or two players over the past 12 months but it’s quite clear players have been sold to balance the books,” Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“When you look at the numbers being mentioned around the Messi deal, I think it’s almost an impossible deal for any club working within the restraints of financial fair play.” AGENCIES

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