Spanish television channel El Chiringuito hosted a live countdown to Lionel Messi’s Barcelona contract ending and it’s essential viewing.
Messi’s Blaugrana contract expired at 12 a.m. this morning, making him a free agent.
In the coming days, he’ll sign a new contract, and not much has changed in general – but don’t tell the men at El Chiringuito.
Wednesday evening saw host Josep Pedrerol sit in front of a live timer and count the seconds until Messi was free.
🚨”MESSI ya NO es JUGADOR del BARÇA”🚨
‼️Tremendo inicio de @jpedrerol en #ChiringuitoMessi pic.twitter.com/GPP6OsVxfJ
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) June 30, 2021
The music, the camera angles, the timer, and the zoom in were all excellent. From beginning to end, it’s pure fun.
Messi is presently competing for Argentina at the Copa America, where he hopes to win his first big international event.
El Chiringuito made news earlier this year after a video of Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard fooling about with Chelsea teammates went viral.
Fans have once again reacted to the hysterical coverage, expressing their desire for it to continue indefinitely.
Lmao the Madrid media had a timer for the occasion 😂 https://t.co/g2N4feYJSh
— Gregorio (@gregbenavides_) July 1, 2021
Why do they have to make stuff so intense😭 https://t.co/Huf7jTRxE0
— a yo. (@victor_D2x) July 1, 2021
The pinnacle of television https://t.co/38skNmoOhd
— Mark Houston (@Mark1Houston) July 1, 2021
Nah bruh wtf is this?? 💀
This “expiry” is just a formality and we’ve got this guy acting like there is a manhunt for a wanted criminal. Messi IS Barcelona and that unfortunately will not change. https://t.co/OR5tJSnBxW— Olli Mulchandani (@ollim_12) July 1, 2021
LOL this is the best free agent announcement I’ve ever seen https://t.co/L6VGCYjqqC
— Billy Kerr (@bkerr725) June 30, 2021
LMAOOO this looks like Triple H’s wrestlemania entrance😭 https://t.co/sUuSJ0oJox
— zia (@ziazulfii) June 30, 2021
Unless anything drastic happens, the 34-year-old is expected to stay at the Camp Nou for another season.
Before Messi re-signs, La Liga president Javier Tebas feels the Catalan giants must reorganise their pay bill.
Tebas said: “We have a special procedure for when a club goes over its salary established by La Liga, where clubs can only include players who represent 25% of the savings.
“If Barca sell a player for €100 million, they can only spend €25 million. If Barca receives €10 million on a sale, they can only spend €2.5 million on a new signing.
Image Credit: PA |
“If Barcelona want to bring in a player who costs them €25 million per season in salary, they must earn, either by transfer or by a salary reduction, €100 million.”
Barcelona have been limited to free transfers so far in this transfer window.
Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia both arrived from Manchester City, while Memphis Depay swapped Ligue 1 side Lyon for La Liga
Featured Image Credit: PA Images & El Chiringuito/Twitter