Barcelona retain Messi hope amid shock leadership shake-up

Tom Weber

• Updated: 2 May 2023 21:56 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona have announced a surprising shake-up in their management structure that may or may not impact their pursuit of Lionel Messi.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain this summer and French media report that a contract extension is out of the question after his recent escapade. The Argentine has been suspended by the club for two weeks without pay after he went on an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, missing training in the process.

This has added yet more fuel to the speculation about his future, but Barcelona's hopes of bringing their club legend back have seemed to be diminishing of late. With them strapped for cash and needing to shave off €200 million from their wage bill, they likely can't afford the soon-to-be 36-year-old and without authorisation from LaLiga, a move is impossible for now.

READ: PSG SUSPEND Messi as Argentine edges closer to Barcelona return

This has allowed Al-Hilal to emerge as a credible destination given Messi's established business relationship with Saudi Arabia and the Riyad behemoth's €400 million-per-year offer. Nevertheless, Barcelona fans will be heartened by the news that the shake-up in the club's management hierarchy likely won't have a negative impact on their Messi pursuit.

READ: PSG will not extend Lionel Messi’s contract after Saudi Arabia trip

Alemany to Aston Villa?

The Blaugrana have announced that director of football Mateu Alemany will depart the club on June 30 "to begin a new professional project." Despite his formal departure on that date, Alemany has informally pledged to continue his duties for the entirety of the summer transfer window.

In other words: if he has been working on a Messi transfer all this time, his eventual departure won't - or shouldn't - impact any potential deal. There is, however, still the lingering uncertainty over Barcelona's dire financial situation.

READ: 'More than useless' - Messi slammed as Barcelona and Saudis fight over suspended PSG star

What Alemany's next project will be remains to be seen, but reports in Spain are already claiming that he is off to the Premier League where Aston Villa have apparently made an 'astronomical' offer for him.