Spanish football expert Graham Hunter has caused quite a stir on social media thanks to his recent revelation about Real Madrid's alleged transfer plans. The renowned journalist claims that Los Blancos are plotting one final audicious move for Barcelona hitman Lionel Messi in the summer.
As absurd and unimaginable as it sounds, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reportedly willing to break the bank to sign the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Los Blancos have been dormant in the transfer market in the recent past due to their their transfer ban that was recently uplifted, and it is quite understandable that they have so much to spend this summer. .jpg)
Graham explained in the Daily Record that Perez has been a long-time admirer of the Argentine since he was 13, and his teammate Andres Iniesta. And the former Spanish politician is well known for making such audacious moves thanks to his club's financial might. Part of his article read:
“Florentino Pérez has been fruitlessly trying to prise Messi [and Iniesta] away from Barcelona since the Argentinian was still 13 and the Catalan club didn’t know how to look after him, or his father, properly.
“On a couple of occasions some board figures at the Camp Nou have told me of Madrid’s fluttering eyelashes and “come hither” wallet flapping in the direction of Camp Messi. So far the response has always been ‘No!’ – but Florentino doesn’t mind a rejection.”
In 2002, he signed Luis Figo from Barcelona, a move that angered many fans of the Catalan club. So angry they were that they even threw a pig's head at the Portugal legend when he returned to Catalonia for El Clasico at the Nou Camp.
But there is also a bigger picture in Real Madrid's pursuit of Messi's signature. According to Graham, the Madrid-based club could win either way. If Perez fails to sign Messi, he could force Barcelona to dig deep into their pockets to improve the superstar's contract, hence draining them financially.
Actually, the whole idea is to hit Barca where it hurts and that's what Perez is trying to do - sign Messi or force Barca into expensive contract negotiations, hence giving Real Madrid the much-needed financial dominance in Spain and Europe at large.
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