Lionel Messi urged to sign on after first full day without paid employment

Unemployed footballer Lionel Messi has been encouraged to sign on for unemployment benefits given he has been out of work and not getting paid for almost 48 hours.

Messi, whose contract with Barcelona expired on Tuesday, is now in the unenviable position of not having an employer, or a regular wage.

Football analyst Simon Williams told us, “Footballers are people too, and like the rest of us, Lionel won’t enjoy not having a wage coming in every week, having to worry about putting food on the table, or how he’ll pay the rent next month.

“These are all legitimate concerns for a man in his position, and as such we would encourage him to explore every opportunity to get a little financial help from the government. He must not be too proud.”

Meanwhile, genuine benefit recipients have expressed concern that multi-millionaire footballers probably shouldn’t be getting state handouts.

Williams countered by saying, “Yes, I can certainly understand that view, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this government it’s that they’re very happy to give lots and lots of money to rich people who don’t really need it.”

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