BARCELONA are in a ton of trouble without Lionel Messi’s freakish free-kick scoring record.
Reaching an incredible 100 games without netting a free-kick is just one more reason why Barca want the legend back.
Messi’s deadball stunner against Valencia on May 2 2021 was the Spanish giants’ last such goal.
He notched 50 free-kicks in all during his 17 years with Barca, plus 10 for Argentina and two for PSG – a conversion rate of 9.1%.
And Nou Camp chief Xavi admits they’ve struggled to find a dead-ball replacement – despite trying and failing with EIGHT big names.
Those having a go include Memphis Depay, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Ousmane Dembele, Ferran Torres, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
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Seven-time Ballon d’or winner Messi, 35, is out of contract with PSG in the summer.
And Barca are reportedly willing to pay the 2022 World Cup winner around £22million a year – a QUARTER of his old Nou Camp salary
In contrast, he could pick up annual wages of £375m if he joins Al-Hilal, the major rivals to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Messi has amassed 31 goals and 33 assists in 69 matches for PSG.
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And although he’s only bagged two free-kicks for the French champions-elect, he had an awesome record for such long-range swervers with Barca, peaking with 10 in 2018.
How the Catalonians would love to see something Nou and old like that again.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
