The transfer market is officially closed until next January 4, 2021. However, there are many transfers that begin to be manufactured outside the established period and, therefore, they form the rumors and information that arise during the previous months. These are the highlights of today, November 19, 2020:
Xavi Hernández to convince Leo Messi
The future of Leo Messi is one of the most important problems that Barcelona must face in 2021. His position seems clear and the decision to leave next year seems to have been taken and decided. The sporting, economic and institutional consequences that his goodbye can cause is a headache that is already on the table very present for future candidates for the club's Presidency.
In recent statements in Reuters, Victor Font has assured, among other things, that one of the assets he will present to try to retain Messi would be the figure of Xavi Hernández. The candidate would choose the ex-player and legend of Barcelona for the position of Barça sports director and would entrust him with the complicated task of starting personal conversations with the Argentine star to try to convince him and change the destiny that, it seems, is more outside than inside the club Catalan. Thus, Xavi would be one of the arguments to try to retain Leo Messi.
The economy of Juventus would raise the sale of Cristiano
The year 2020 has been a difficult year for the world, and football does not seem to escape the consequences. In economic terms, many teams are already suffering the monetary consequences of a stoppage that has thrown many of the accounts out of balance. Juventus, one of the most powerful teams in Italian football, does not escape the networks of COVID-19 and its economy seems to have also been affected.
From Italy, Calciomercato affirms that the Bianconero club would be really considering the possibility that Cristiano Ronaldo would leave the club next summer. At 35 years old (36 when the summer market arrives), his great sporting level would allow a sale for a significant price and, although in sporting terms it could be a significant drop, they do not rule out that it could happen. In recent weeks there have been rumors of alleged interests of teams such as Manchester United or Paris Saint Germain to take over their services. Two economically powerful clubs that would allow the Portuguese player to continue playing in the elite and, in turn, Juventus receive a high figure.
Manchester City's offer for Leo Messi … in January.
Manchester City has many of the ballots to be the future team of Leo Messi in case, as the rumors and more solid information assure, that the Argentine leaves Barcelona next year. After his failed attempt last summer, everything points to 2021 as the key date when everything should be resolved.
But would it be in summer or winter? Daily Mail reported in the last hours that it would not be ruled out for Manchester City to return to the fray, but in the next January market, and not in summer. For this, it should offer an economic offer to Barcelona, since Messi's contract is still in force, and the figure being considered would be 55 million pounds. An offer that, obviously, can be low in the case of a footballer of the sports and social dimensions of Messi, but that compared to a free departure in summer, could raise many things within the Camp Nou.
Manchester United will try to sign Varane
Varane is one of the most valued center-backs in European football and Manchester United seems to be one of the clubs most interested in taking over his services for several seasons. The Old Trafford club would be willing to make the final offer to make the old wish come true next summer and Manchester could be their destination if a hypothetical exit from Real Madrid is confirmed.
Varane ends his contract in 2022, but the shadow of his future begins to hover over the Santiago Bernabéu due to his performance and the information born in England this week as a complement to a Maguire who is not especially going through his most placid moment. Thus, along with the most expensive center-back in history, Manchester United would seek to return to the charge for the French defender, despite the fact that the current intention of Real Madrid would be to announce its renewal before the end of this year 2020.