La Liga Chief Plays Down Messi Impact
La Liga chief Javier Tebas thinks the Spanish league can survive without Lionel Messi.
The Argentinian ace’s Barcelona future is in doubt after a number of issues with club bosses over the past two months, including disagreements about a failed public pursuit of Neymay last summer, and technical director Eric Abidal blaming players for Ernesto Valverde’s January exit.
Messi could walk away for nothing as part of his contract, with Inter Milan amongst those interested in the former Balon d’Or winner.
However, Tebas – who took a dig at Messi, Serie A and Cristiano Ronaldo’s own move from Real Madrid to Juventus two years ago – insisted such a situation wouldn’t “be a drama”.
He insisted:
“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.
“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 without Cristiano Ronaldo the league would have lost money.
“Instead we would have earned it, even in Portugal. Players help but are not essential to a championship.”