What would need to happen for Messi to join Norwich

[Jimmy smith]

Just a bit of a theoretical thought, but I wonder where our standards would meet? I watched Cambiasso lead the revival versus Man U for Leicester yesterday and it wan't long ago that he was one of the best players in the world. You then look at Davids at Barnet!

Perhaps we'd need to get into the premiership, nick a europa league spot and at the other end of the scale, Messi would need to decline (or get old). He is 27 I think now, so perhaps in 6 years when he's over the hill (perhaps after a couple of injury ridden seasons).

Even then, I think in name alone, he'd move to somewhere like USA, back to Argentina or Qatar before us even if we were at a better level.

Perhaps we'd have a small chance if we fluked 4th place in 6 years time and Messi was out of contract and unwanted at Barca after a big decline!

 

[E2 Canary]

I think it would take a parallel universe, to be honest.

 

[Din]

I'd have to use the financial takeover option on Fifa 14 Career Mode.

 

[Jimmy smith]

It was funny watching Esteban Cambiasso hand Jamie Vardy the MOTM award after beating Man U with the knowledge I probably played against him at some point in my very lowly football career!

 

[KeiranShikari]

Somebody would have to kidnap his family and make it the terms.

 

[Suffolk Canary]

I think it would take Delia to be replaced but a heck of a lot of Arab oil money...

 

[Canaryboy]

Just a bit of a theoretical thought, but I wonder where our standards would meet? I watched Cambiasso lead the revival versus Man U for Leicester yesterday and it wan't long ago that he was one of the best players in the world. You then look at Davids at Barnet!

Perhaps we'd need to get into the premiership, nick a europa league spot and at the other end of the scale, Messi would need to decline (or get old). He is 27 I think now, so perhaps in 6 years when he's over the hill (perhaps after a couple of injury ridden seasons).

Even then, I think in name alone, he'd move to somewhere like USA, back to Argentina or Qatar before us even if we were at a better level.

Perhaps we'd have a small chance if we fluked 4th place in 6 years time and Messi was out of contract and unwanted at Barca after a big decline!

I get the general gist of what you are saying, I'd say that it is highly unlikely that we'll ever see Messi himself in the Premier League because he knows he has always struggled against English teams and the style of football doesn't suit him. Wouldn't surprise me if he retires a 'one club' man anyway.

But I think we would see more players like Cambiassio, Del Piero, Saviola, Raul and Ronaldinho coming over and doing a couple of years for mid-table or lower Prem clubs if we didn't have a 45% tax rate. In both the US and Qatar the tax rates for high earners are much lower, and its always going to be more attractive to a player with nothing to prove to go and do a shorter season in a trendy place like California or New York, or a warm climate and relaxed lifestyle like in Australia. 

A player would have to have really dreamed of playing in the Premier League to choose two years living in Middlesbrough over two years living in Manhattan. Cambiassio regrets turning down Premier League offers in the past, which is why he is here. 

There have been a few other examples though, Blackburn got Michel Salgado for a couple of years didn't they? Vicente at Brighton in the Championship. 

It doesn't always work out though. Julio Cesar was rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and Redknapp didn't fancy him over Rob Green. I can remember how excited we were about Thomas Helveg and he weren't really that good. 

 

[Safri15]

Its not that Harry rated Rob Green over Cesar. Julio pushed for a move when QPR were relegated and said he was too good to play in the Championship. Its much like the Bassong problem we have. Cesar's wages are so high at QPR nobody wanted to go near him and Harry froze him out of the team due to his attitude. This is what I've been led to believe by my QPR mate anyway.