Why Chelsea Do Not Need Multimillion Lionel Messi Transfer from Barcelona
It's a rumour as ludicrous as what the potential transfer fee would be—Lionel Messi could be on his way to Chelsea.
Apparently.
The move has been mooted for some time, with influences ranging from Messi supposedly desiring a change of scenery, per the Daily Express, to seeking a reunion with ex-Barcelona teammate Cesc Fabregas.
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Bleacher Report's Guillem Balague also stated last month that Messi was "fed up that Barcelona haven’t built [another] competitive team" around him, per Sky Sports.
The case is clearly gathering momentum, yet Jose Mourinho, it seems, is the only person willing to talk sense on the rumours.
He told BT Sport's Clare Balding (per the Daily Mail) in a special Christmas interview:
"No, I have no chance of [signing Messi]. At this moment there is financial fair play and with the financial fair play we have to follow certain rules, certain numbers and we obviously have no conditions to buy, as you say a 'super amazing player' paid with 'super amazing numbers' that Chelsea at this moment we cannot do.
"
There goes that £200 million fee, then.
In an age of jumped-up transfers, it's ridiculous to even consider it. Even if the player is Lionel Messi.
Weighed up with the risk of bringing a 27-year-old to a league that he has no experience of, combined with what time he has left in his career, there isn't a club in Europe that could logically sanction such a move.
It would cripple them. Financial Fair Play or not.
Besides, Chelsea don't need Messi.
Despite his talent, the Argentinian's transfer would be at odds with the policy the club has implemented to good effect in recent seasons.
Chelsea have been stung too many times before with marquee players, and they've finally learned their lesson.
First it was Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo in the early days of Roman Abramovich's reign. The club spent the best part of £32 million on the pair and were left picking up the very expensive pieces of their shattered west London dreams.
Both flopped.
Then came Andriy Shevchenko and in January 2011 the Ukrainian was followed by Fernando Torres for £50 million.
Take your pick for Chelsea's biggest embarrassment in the transfer market.
That was then, however. Now there's a focus on not only nurturing players through the club's academy, but also bringing some of the world's best young talents to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have done it with Eden Hazard and Oscar, while other rising stars of the game include Kurt Zouma and Andre Schurrle.
The club's transfer policy is almost an extension of what they've achieved in the past.
In Mourinho's first reign as boss, it was the unglamorous signings that always served him best. It was Didier Drogba up front and a group of players he inherited such as Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard.
When we talk of the team that ended Chelsea's 50-year wait for a league title, it's those names that roll quickest off the tongue.
Chelsea made those players into the stars they became. They may not have produced them in the traditional sense, but bringing them to west London, the club embedded them in culture that allowed them to thrive.
It was when egos in the boardroom got the better of everybody that things soon fell apart. Signing established stars such a Shevchenko took something away from what Chelsea were creating.
Now they have it back, so why spoil it?
Mourinho's method is about building solid foundations for success, using the right tools and materials when required.
For any proof on the substance of such claims, the fact subsequent Chelsea managers stuck to his formula to deliver success tells us all we need to know.
Chelsea won their fourth league title with the nucleus of Mourinho's team, adding another three FA Cups and the Champions League.
Adding Messi right now wouldn't sit right.
The manager has transformed the squad he inherited last year to one more in his vision—and it doesn't have room for a megastar.
Hazard is the next global name in the making, yet his profile continues to grow at Chelsea. He's the next "super amazing player" Mourinho references in his BT Sport interview.
He hasn't cost £200 million and in coming years will be the man we all turn to in wonder.
Messi's an understandable temptation, but Chelsea can't veer from the path they have set themselves on.
They'll be playing a dangerous game of boom or bust if they do.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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