The worker is the representative
Who played the decisive role in Lionel Messi not signing a contract extension with Barcelona ? Not M10, not the La Liga organizing committee, nor the leaders of Barcelona Club. The person behind everything directing the separation between Leo and Barca is Mr. Jorge Messi, his biological father and representative.
The next destination in Messi’s career will almost certainly be PSG, where the French team offers him a salary of 800,000 euros/week. An unimaginable number in a time when the world is in financial crisis because of the epidemic! Once again, Mr. Jorge became the director of a contract with his son’s extremely high salary.
What is the reason why Mr. Jorge disregards all the bad reputation about him to make as much money as possible for his son? The story begins 40 years ago, when Jorge was just a young worker working in the poor city of Rosario. After work, Jorge takes on the position of coach of a children’s soccer team called Grandoli. Leo played there before joining Newell’s Old Boys.
“My son is a football genius, but he is physically slow. Please help my family buy hormone injections for him.” Mr. Jorge made this request many times to the Newell’s Old Boys board of directors but was rejected. Frustrated because his son’s future was not guaranteed, he took Messi to Barcelona.
At first, Barca did not dare to sign a contract with Leo immediately, because he was only 13 years old at that time. Once again, Mr. Jorge pressured the club’s board of directors to quickly promote the contract. Wherever he goes, his father is by his side, so Leo just needs to focus on playing football. Mr. Jorge took care of everything outside, both positive and negative aspects.
Jorge Messi is a loving father who has accompanied Lionel since childhood
What makes Mr. Jorge most proud of his son is that from childhood until adulthood, he has never once disobeyed his father. He once frankly shared: “There is no way the boy would dare say ‘I’m grown up, I’m a good player, let me decide for myself’. Leo always listens to my instructions.” Jorge is also the one who takes care of Leo when he is accused of tax evasion and is at risk of going to jail.
Help me or harm me?
Lionel Messi has been Barcelona’s treasure for a long time, but that doesn’t mean everyone here loves Jorge. The scene of Messi’s father constantly appearing before the club’s board of directors to demand a new contract and a salary increase for his son made many people frustrated. Jorge did everything to achieve his goal, including gaining a bad reputation for himself over the years.
Few people know that it only took Messi 3 years from the day he played for Barcelona in his first match to become the club’s highest paid player. Even Ronaldinho in his prime did not receive as many benefits as Messi. When the day M10 started playing and won the Golden Ball, the demands for salary and bonuses from Mr. Jorge came more and more.
Those who have worked with Jorge commented that he is a father who loves his children, but never compromises at the negotiating table. If Jorge wants Leo to receive 40 million euros/year, the final number is always 40 million, not even a penny less. He also refused all job cooperation invitations from professional brokers because they were not trustworthy.
Jorge’s unique way of working has built a business empire with Messi at the center, which he simply operates from afar. Jorge has now settled back in Argentina, but he still directs the work of the “Messi Office” in Barcelona. This office only has a few people in charge of reception, financial management, investment… but operates extremely effectively.
Messi’s office manages this player’s financial fund, with revenue of about 22 million euros/year coming from sponsorship contracts. This is essentially a tool Jorge created to avoid a second tax evasion lawsuit. At the 2016 trial, Leo said he signed every contract his father gave him because he trusted Jorge absolutely.
Not only did Jorge almost put his son in jail, but Jorge also accidentally drove away many big business partners. Leo could have made more money than Ronaldo if Jorge hadn’t been so greedy that he offered one or two less on the negotiating table. Barcelona really wanted Lionel Messi to stay, but had to let him leave because he couldn’t meet the number Jorge set.
