Messi leaving Barcelona would not be 'a drama' for LaLiga, says Tebas
Peter Hanson
April 7, 2020 13:30 MYT
April 7, 2020 13:30 MYT
Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona for Inter "would not be a drama" for LaLiga nor would he immediately solve Serie A's problems, according to Javier Tebas.
The idea of Messi departing Camp Nou has often appeared fanciful but clashes between the Argentina great and Barca's board this season have made it seem a much more plausible scenario.
Former Inter president Massimo Moratti said this week that a potential Nerazzurri swoop for Messi is not a "forbidden dream at all".
Messi leaving would be seen by most as a blow to LaLiga as well as Barca, given his standing as one of the greatest players of all time.
But LaLiga chief Tebas says the league will always be strong, pointing to Cristiano Ronaldo's switch from Real Madrid to Juventus as proof, while he claimed Italian football would not be fixed purely by Messi's arrival.
50 - Lionel Messi scored 50 goals in 37 appearances for @FCBarcelona in @LaLigaEN 2011/12, the most by a player in a single season in the competition's history. Celestial. #OptaLaLigaSeasons pic.twitter.com/Fy19HqxaJj — OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 29, 2020
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"I do not think that the arrival of Messi can solve the problems of Serie A, which are linked to the bad relationship between debts, high and insufficient collections," Tebas said on a video conference with reporters.
"Serie A's figures are stressed, and these economic problems certainly are not solved by Leo Messi.
"I would like Messi to stay here, but if he leaves it would not be a drama.
"It was said that without Cristiano Ronaldo the league would have lost money, and instead we would have earned it, even in Portugal. Players help but are not essential to a championship. "