The $44 Million Surprise Sale To Manchester United That Could Prove Key To Lionel Messi’s FC Barcelona Return

A potential, surprise €40 million ($44 million) sale by FC Barcelona to Manchester United could prove key to Lionel Messi’s return to the Catalan club, according to El Nacional.

Ez Abde initially impressed under Ronald Koeman when breaking through to the first team in the summer of 2021, but he was then shipped out on loan to Osasuna after signing a contract extension until 2026.

There in Pamplona, the Morroco international who reached the semi-finals of the World Cup with his country at Qatar 2022 has gone from strength to strentgh.

Helping the Basque overachievers get to the Copa del Rey final where they will face Real Madrid, the 21-year-old scored a decisive brace on the left wing in a 2-1 win over Elche at the weekend.

The lack of options Koeman’s successor Xavi Hernandez has at his disposal means that Abde will likely be called back this summer to replenish a soon-to-be La Liga-winning squad.

Barca’s financial woes are also relevant, in that they can’t make new signings as things stand and have been warned to shave €200 million ($218 million) from the wage bill by the Spanish top flight’s president Javier Tebas.

As reported by El Nacional, however, Manchester United’s surprise interest in Abde and the likelihood the Premier
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League giants will launch a €40 million ($44 million) bid for him soon could help facilitate Messi’s Prodigal Son return.

Though Messi becomes a free agent on June 30 when his Paris Saint Germain contract expires, paying the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could prove an issue in 2023/2024.

One idea that has been floated according to the Catalan digital newspaper would be for Messi to receive a minimum €200,000 ($218,000) yearly salary and then the full proceeds from his farewell match that could fetch up to €200 million ($218 million).

Yet player sales will also be important, and the lump sum possibly incoming from England for Abde might be difficult for Barca to turn down.

Elsewhere on the pitch, however, the Blaugrana are open to listening to offers for their underperforming wideman trio of Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres and Raphinha according to SPORT.