Cast your mind back to the past off-season, when it looked almost certain that Lionel Messi would depart Barcelona after 16 incredible years at Camp Nou. In the end, no transfer ended up being made, and the Argentinean legend remained at the club where he has spent his entire career to date.
I have brought this up because it is entirely possible that we may just have seen Messi play his very last Champions League match for the Blaugrana. In the second leg of Barça's Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain, the Catalan club held PSG to a 1-1 draw. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring for PSG from the penalty spot before Messi equalized seven minutes later. However, given the fact that Barça had to overcome a three-goal deficit, the final result was always inevitable from the beginning of the match.
The result meant that Barça were eliminated from the tournament, losing 5-2 on aggregate. It was the first time since 2007 that Barça failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Champions League. More importantly, though, it could very well prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for Messi.
To say that Barça's most recent off-season was a tumultuous one would be a severe understatement. It began with the expected firing of head coach Quique Setién; Ronald Koeman took over as his replacement. A mass exodus of key players soon followed. The most notable of these was the departure of Luis Suárez to Atlético Madrid on a free transfer. These departures were closely linked to the turmoil in Barça's front office which culminated in the resignation of club president Josep Bartomeu in October 2020. It was this same series of events which almost drove Messi out of Barça.
With Barça's exit from the Champions League, Messi's place at the club next season will surely be under even more scrutiny. While the writing is not quite on the wall yet, it soon will be if things remain as they are. Out of the Champions League and unlikely to win La Liga, Barça's only realistic hope for silverware this season is the Copa del Rey.
It has to be kept in mind that Messi is now 33; he does not have all that many years as an elite player remaining. Though he is still performing at a very high level, he has already shown clear signs of decline for the past one to two years. He knows he has to do whatever it takes to maximize his chances of landing a fifth Champions League title. More than ever before, it appears that his best chance to do so lies away from Catalonia.
Messi has been linked with Manchester City, PSG, and Inter Milan. All three options present their own advantages. At City, he would reunite with head coach Pep Guardiola, under whom he won two Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011 as part of arguably the greatest club team of all time. City have a wretched Champions League record; only once have they ever advanced to the tournament's semifinals. Messi's arrival would likely change that.
PSG is another interesting option because they have more financial might than any other club on the planet. Apart from being the most financially lucrative option, PSG would also provide the chance for Messi to make history. Like City, PSG have never won the Champions League. They reached the final for the first time last season, only to lose to Bayern Munich. At PSG, Messi would rejoin former Barça teammate Neymar as well as three teammates from his national team.
Inter are seen as the least likely option; however, it would make a lot of sense. This is a team which has a solid supporting cast as well as an excellent head coach in Antonio Conte. Just about the only thing Inter need to become a genuine Champions League contender is a legitimate superstar. Messi would be exactly that.
Lionel Messi's 17-year stint at Barcelona is unquestionably the greatest one-club run in the history of football. Never again will many of his achievements there be replicated by any other player at any other club. However, it looks as though these glorious years are drawing to a close. Where will his next stop be? Only time will tell.
No comments:
Post a Comment