How Lionel Messi Almost Destroyed Barcelona

When Lionel Messi’s private jet touched down in Paris on Tuesday afternoon, it meant an abrupt end to his 20 years with FC Barcelona—the most productive player-club relationship in soccer history. The world’s best player joined Qatari-funded Paris St Germain days after Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta had admitted that the Catalan club couldn’t afford to keep him. Barça’s debt of $1.4 billion, and the Spanish league’s strict rules against overspending, prevented Laporta from offering Messi a new contract.

The Argentinian wept at the p…