Rangers captain James Tavernier has joked that outgoing Barcelona star and global icon Lionel Messi is “on his way” to Ibrox as part of a live stream.
The Ibrox skipper regularly streams whilst playing Call of Duty and made the comments as legendary superstar Messi prepares to depart the Nou Camp this summer.
https://twitter.com/Regan1872/status/1423444875626811399
“Well I can finally say, got confirmation, Messi is on his way,” jokes Tavernier, before chuckling the comment off.
Rangers captain Tav isn’t the only one cracking the jokes about the most eligible free-agent in global football as just about fan insists the Argentina legend could “do a job” for their team.
Messi is regarded by many as the greatest player ever to play the game and leaves Barcelona after a summer of financial downsizing has finally taken its toll.
Barca’s current situation meant they were unable to register new players as per league rules with Messi’s gargantuan reported £108.2m a year salary dominating the wage bill [the Sun].
The Catalan side announced the 34-year-old attacker’s release this week after plans to sign a reduced five-year deal collapsed.
The diminutive Argentine is a spectacular footballer and he has spent his entire career with Barcelona, earning unprecedented success and securing six Ballon d’Ors in the process.
Messi is synonymous with the Nou Camp club and his achievements are truly remarkable: 778 games, 672 goals, 305 assists, six Golden Boots, 10 La Ligas, 4 Champions Leagues and 35 trophies in total.
It’s been emotional and now the attention turns to where the magnificent maestro heads to next with PSG currently heading the queue [Sky Sports].
But Ibrox fans have somewhere else in mind as they take to Twitter to suggest Ibrox Stadium might be the ultimate destination:
https://twitter.com/AllanBeattie88/status/1423389278667776001
https://twitter.com/toughers1872/status/1423341578286948354
https://twitter.com/scottfraser1972/status/1423368572764577795
Whilst these suggestions are certainly tongue-in-cheek, things could’ve been so much different for Messi had he actually joined Rangers earlier in his career.
Ex-Gers boss Alex McLeish launched an audacious bid for Messi in 2003 after his son alerted him to the Argentine through Football Manager.
But it wasn’t to be as by McLeish’s own admission Barcelona told Rangers there was “no chance” [TalkSPORT].
It’s not the only run-in Messi had with Rangers in his career as the Gers faced off against the Argentine in the Champions League of 2007/08.
The Gers were eventually beaten 2-0 in the Nou Camp but Walter Smith’s study side risked the ire of Lionel Messi as they held a star-studded Barca to a 0-0 draw.
Typically defensive against the larger sides, a frustrated Messi was pocketed by Sasa Papac and Davie Weir before branding the team “anti-football” in the post-match!
Whilst it remains unlikely Rangers will be able to tie Lionel down on a deal, they do have their sights set on concluding a contract with a player we’re sure many Bears much prefer.
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