Rio Ferdinand Sends Chelsea Fans Into Meltdown With Sensational Lionel Messi Transfer Claim

Rio Ferdinand has well and truly opened the floodgates in the ongoing Lionel Messi transfer saga, suggesting that Chelsea boss Frank Lampard “is in” for the Barcelona forward.

We already know that Messi has told Catalan officials that he no longer sees his future at the Camp Nou. The 33-year-old is demanding an exit from the club this summer and even sent a fax to express his ultimate desire to leave.

Messi’s future at Barca was plunged into serious doubt after Bayern Munich knocked his side out of the Champions League in a humiliating 8-2 defeat, but it now looks odds-on that he will leave in the coming weeks.

File photo – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Lyon (OL) and FC Barcelona on February 19, 2019, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, central-eastern France. Argentine football star Lionel Messi has sent a letter to Barcelona informing the club that he wants to leave the team. Following the Catalan side’s humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Barca TV: “Messi has said many times that he wants to finish career at Barca. In July 2017, Barcelona and Messi announced a contract extension that would keep Messi with the team until June 30, 2021 and is reportedly worth 565,000 ($645,000) a week. Messi, 33, has been with the club since 2000. Photo by Christian Liewig/ABACAPRESS.COM

So who will he join?

Manchester City and PSG continue to be linked with his signature, with reports emerging that Messi is ‘set’ on playing under Pep Guardiola once more.

But seemingly out of nowhere, another Premier League side are now interested in bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to England, according to Rio Ferdinand.

The former Manchester United defender sent Chelsea fans into meltdown on Tuesday by saying Frank Lampard is ready to pounce. “Just heard Frank Lampard is now in for #messi. Some window this if Lamps pulls this off!”

Ferdinand’s sensational claims left fans in a state of excitement and shock. Here’s how social media reacted to the news.

The addition of Messi would give Chelsea a brand new look in 2020/21, with the club already bringing in Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.

Lampard’s side are also closing in three more huge deals for Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell as they try and challenge for the Premier League title once more.

Whether they will challenge for Messi’s signature is only speculation of course, but Ferdinand’s claim on social media last night has certainly caused a stir.