Rosell: Leo Messi would cost £504m

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   Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has claimed that Lionel Messi would cost any potential interested side around £504m, but insists he would never allow him to leave Camp Nou.
   

   Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid are ready to close a deal for Welsh winger Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur, that could cost them £105m and Barca president Sandro Rosell has said that Lionel Messi would cost around £504m.

   “All players who want to leave this club, can leave,” he said when asked about the departure of Thiago Alcantara, who left the club to join Bayern Munich.

   “If it was Messi, then they would have to pay him £217m and the taxes involved so it would be around £504m.

   “Time will tell if €120m (£105m) for Bale is cheap or expensive,” the 49-year-old added. “We have to put the player’s age, his titles, his salary, his career to date and his abiliy into the mix. That will tell us if he is expensive or cheap.