One of his generation’s finest footballers, Lionel Messi, will not be playing for FC Barcelona next season. The club and the legend put out a statement that due to ‘financial and structural obstacles’, riding on Spanish La Liga regulations, Messi has to leave the club. I want to use this opportunity to present Nigeria’s most successful club, Enyimba FC, to Messi as a possible destination. Enyimba FC has won Africa’s Champions League twice, the only in Nigeria’s history, and has a great heritage. This will be a natural fit for Messi!
Of course, while I understand that La Liga regulations could not allow FC Barcelona to pay Messi more than Abia state annual recurrent budget, for kicking a round leather ball, we will make up by giving Messi 70% of TV rights for all Enyimba games. We do believe that his presence will generate a 50x multiple on TV rights, not just locally but globally. Yes, even if the salary is low, Messi will make up via the TV rights.
Also, the Ovim nation will give him a chieftaincy title “Onye isi buru ba 1 of Africa” [the leader who goes to score games 1 of Africa]. Messi will rekindle the spirit of football like many of us experienced where using the small transistor radio, we could listen to the greats of old in the Nigerian league: Edward Ansah, Abdullahi Alausa, Matthew Onyeama, John Benson, Wole Odegbami…
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Ohhh The Sharks will destroy the Bridge today, the commentator will shout as Sharks of Port Harcourt go to battle Julius Berger.
Messi, we hope you make the right decision and choose the people’s elephant.
? 778 games
?? 672 goals
? 305 assists
? 35 trophiesFarewell, Leo Messi. pic.twitter.com/oNHJzaGjpR
— 433 (@433) August 5, 2021
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It’s a great example on how not to run an institution. It doesn’t matter how robust an institution is, just put one goat head as the leader, and within few years, everything would crash.
FC Barcelona lived on the financial edge for few years now, players were paid nothing close to market value, all manner of goodies were inserted in some contracts, even without asking. And they paid ridiculous amounts to sign players they never knew where to use them, it was pathetic to watch.
Barca had six players earning more than the highest paid player in Madrid, not that they they were winning much anyway, but just for playing with Messi, they got fat wages. Now it got so bad that even with wage cut by 50%, Barca couldn’t still retain the services its greatest player ever.
Whenever you are too excited, never make promises or go shopping, it always end in tears.
A lesson on how not to run an enterprise, else you are a toast.