On Tuesday, 25th August Lionel Messi told FCB that he wants to leave Barcelona, his only senior club this summer after 16 years. Messi, who made his first appearance for the club in 2004, won 10 La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League trophies and scored 634 goals with the club. But when he lands with a new team, Messi will join some elite company of players to play more than 15 years with one team then leave for another.
Messi has won 26 trophies with Barcelona, including 10 Spanish league titles.
Image source: reuters.com
The news came along, deepening the turmoil within the Catalan side less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the biggest European defeat in Barcelona's history. Barcelona said it told Messi it wants him to stay and finish his career at the club. It hinted that a legal battle could be coming and said it will not automatically grant the Argentine great his wishes.
The dispute centers around a clause in Messi's contract. Under the terms of the contract, which expires in 2021, the only way Messi can leave without the club's consent is if a rival side pays his release clause of 700 million euros ($828m). Messi, being one of the most important players of Barcelona, was dissatisfied with many issues faced by the club. His request to leave Barca comes a day after Spanish media reported that new coach Ronald Koeman told Messi's close friend and strike partner, Luis Suarez, he does not wish the Uruguayan to stay at the club. "Messi's future will have an influence on Suarez's because they are best friends, they get along on and off the pitch," the agent explained to TyC Sports on Wednesday. Messi and Suarez have struck up a strong friendship since the latter's arrival at Camp Nou in 2014, initially forming two-thirds of the club's famed MSN (Messi, Suarez and Jr. Neymar).
Messi still craves for another Champions League – a trophy he has not won since 2015.
Image source: gettyimages.com
According to multiple reports, the 33-year-old is utilizing a clause in his contract which allows him to leave the club for free this summer. Reportedly the clause expired on June 10, but Messi believes he still has the right to activate it now due to the season being extended because of the coronavirus pandemic. Should Messi get his wish and leave, there are perhaps only two clubs in Europe that could realistically afford his reported $100 million per year salary: Manchester City and Paris-Saint Germain. There is a high possibility that Messi will be joining his former coach Josep 'Pep' Guardiola at Manchester City who was his coach during his peak time at Barcelona.
Lionel Messi with his former coach Pep Guardiola had a good bond with each other.
Image source: thesun.co.uk
Unsurprisingly, Spanish media has been having a field day since arguably the biggest transfer news in La Liga's history broke on Tuesday. Barcelona fans gathered outside the club's headquarters as they expressed their support for the club's legendary forward and demanded the resignation of the club President Josep Maria Bartomeu. Ex-Barca presiden Joan Laporta clearly blamed Bartomeu for the stance taken by Messi. Barca are in the midst of overhauling their squad following the defeat by Bayern which condemned the club to a trophy-less season for the first time in 12 years.
Messi’s achievements over the years in Football Club Barcelona.
Image source: cnn.com
Messi who holds 34 titles, 634 goals, 513 victories, 80 Guinness world records, and a six-time Ballon d'Or winner wants to go to a team where he can win. Barcelona was at its crest during four seasons under Guradiola from 2008-2012. Since then, Messi has been trying hard to manage the team as the captain. In February, he lashed out at then-sporting director Eric Abidal on social media and a couple of months later turned his anger on the club hierarchy for the way in which players were forced to take a pay cut to cope with the financial hit of the coronavirus pandemic. After Barca surrendered the La Liga title to Real Madrid in July 2020, Messi slammed the team as being "weak" and "vulnerable" during an uncharacteristically fiery post-match interview.
Messi’s decision that he wants to leave the club Camp Nou is clear, but the next step is awaited by all. It would definitely represent the biggest transfer in the history of football. Wherever he goes, he has the power to transform the club as a great team.
Messi has already made up his mind to leave the club he was associated with for 16 years. Image source: gettyimages.com
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