Adrian Durham questions whether the Marcelo Bielsa factor could tempt Lionel Messi to Leeds United
Tim Vickery has laughed off a suggestion by Adrian Durham that Marcelo Bielsa might be able to persuade Lionel Messi to sign for Leeds United this summer.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday afternoon [09/08/21] in a video relayed on their Twitter account, host Durham pondered his Whites theory.
“My little dream that I have is that Lionel Messi holds off [PSG],” he said. “What if Bielsa were to step in and make a lifestyle offer, a football offer that really would work for Messi.
“Call me an idiot but honestly, Messi in a Leeds shirt under Bielsa, how good does that sound?
Vickery, South American football correspondent for the BBC, replied: “It does sound fantastic but one of the things that he said yesterday is that he really wants to win the Champions League again.
“For the moment, Leeds are not in that race.
“It’s a lovely and romantic idea, and Bielsa does talk about the amateur spirit, you’ve got to do it because you absolutely love it, it would be fascinating but I fear it’s possibly just as likely that he’s going to end up at Peterborough United as Leeds.”
Durham: “You’re underestimating Bielsa there. I don’t think it’s going to happen either, it’s just if anybody could sell him that dream, it would be Bielsa.
“Players do want to play under him and I just wondered if there was any kind of connection that might make Messi think ‘I fancy giving that a go’.”
Vickery: “His talent is so complete that he’s still an absolutely magnificent player.”
Lend us the money, Durham…
Messi’s shock exit from Barcelona last week, after La Liga blocked his contract demands at the Spanish giants, sparked widespread debate about who the legendary star should join next.
The four-time Champions League winner has spent his entire career at Barcelona but he is set to head for pastures new as he enters the twilight of his career.
After the news emerged there were a few tentative links to Leeds, born mainly out of the esteem in which Bielsa is held, and the fact that he is also Argentinian.
But it was never something that was ever seriously considered in the minds of Leeds fans – there are just so many reasons to discount it, though many dreamed.
For one, his salary demands would be out of this world for the Whites.
Even if Andrea Radrizzani sold everything off to afford the 34-year-old’s signature, Messi’s dreams of lifting another Champions League would scupper a deal.
This makes a change from the talkSPORT host tipping us for relegation at the beginning of the season, but it’s time for Durham to dream on if he thinks there is even a minuscule chance of Messi arriving at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to sign this Portuguese attacking sensation.