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20 Reasons Lionel Messi Wants To Leave Barcelona

Darren Ryding - December 19, 2023

Uncategorized

20 Reasons Lionel Messi Wants To Leave Barcelona

Darren Ryding - December 19, 2023

Lionel Messi is more than a soccer legend. He’s an icon. The Argentine forward is one of the greatest players to ever step onto a soccer field. Some even say he is the best ever. He’s also synonymous with longtime club Barcelona, but their relationship may finally be coming to an end.

After 10 La Ligas, four Champion’s League titles, and six Copa Del Reys, the six-time Ballon D’Or winner handed in a transfer request. After years of mismanagement and ineptitude, Barcelona may pay the price. Their hero, one of the powerhouses of world soccer, wants to leave. At least he says he does. Let’s take a look at 20 reasons why Messi wants to leave Barcelona, or at least force his club to take some progressive action. Check out the list below via AS.

20. Frustration

First of all, Messi’s frustrations with Barcelona on and off the field are clear. It isn’t a single issue that has caused him to hand in a transfer request. Rather, it’s the slow build-up of gross incompetence off the field and poor results on the field. This is unforgivable for Messi.

As a result, he has taken out his fury in the most visible way. This transfer request stunned the world of soccer and shook Barca to its core. The club knows that they have a tiny window to try and avoid this mess from spilling over into something that they can’t control. Losing the best player in history isn’t good for your image.

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19. No Vision

One of the main issues is that Barcelona lacks a clear and coherent vision. Their recent transfer signings are flawed. For example, they let Neymar leave and wanted to bring him back but couldn’t afford to after they signed Antoine Griezmann. Meanwhile, the Frenchman has faced many struggles.

Why has Griezmann found life difficult? Well, in short, his best position with Atletico Madrid was effectively the Messi. So they wasted a load of money on a player who doesn’t fit into their system. This is just one example but there’s generally a lack of planning all over the place.

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18. Luis Suarez

Another key factor is the expected high turnover in players this summer. Barcelona wants to shift several first-team players, but the question is whether anybody will actually want them. However, they made it clear that they’ll happily sell star striker Luis Suarez.

Suarez has slowed down, but if he leaves it will somewhat isolate Messi at the club. He has a very close, personal relationship with the Uruguayan both on and off the field. It would be a blow to lose his friend and it will also make it easier for him to walk away.

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17. Now or Never

It’s also a case of now or never for Messi. He is now 33. The magician is still a phenomenal force but is also in the twilight of his career. If he wants to leave Barcelona and play for a club of a similar standard in European soccer, then he needs to depart this summer.

Whether or not that is feasible remains to be seen because of the financial effects of the current health crisis. However, if he wants to move to the likes of Manchester City or Inter Milan and make an impact, then now is the time to jump ship and sign for one of those teams.

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16. Koeman’s Mistake

New manager Ronald Koeman has been on the hot seat for less than a week and is already under pressure. However, he really didn’t help himself after telling Messi ‘your privileges are over.’ Purists might say that no player is bigger than the team, but this is Lionel Messi we are talking about. Let’s not pretend otherwise.

In short, Koeman effectively provoked Messi into handing in that transfer request. Furthermore, if he walks away on a free transfer, then the Dutch manager will be without the best player in the club’s history and with no money to sign a replacement. It was a horrible first impression to give.

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15. Disrespect

When you have a finely-tuned superstar like Messi, you have to treat him right. We’ve already talked about Koeman’s misjudged statement. But that’s indicative of the way the entire board of directors has dealt with their most important player.

Furthermore, many of the players felt disrespected by former technical director Eric Abidal. Abidal has left the club already after their shambolic effort against Bayern Munich. But Messi fumed that the board attempted to blame the players instead of sharing the responsibility.

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14. Wasted Years

It’s definitely clear that Barcelona has wasted Messi’s last few years. That might seem outrageous because he has won 10 La Liga titles and four Champion’s Leagues. The latter is more than most clubs in their entire history. But this is an exceptional player and the last European success came five years ago.

At the end of the day, European success is what defines big clubs. Barcelona has collapsed time and time again against the likes of Roma, Liverpool and Bayern Munich in dire circumstances. They have failed to take advantage of having one of the most spectacular superstars in world sport.

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13. Weak Managers

One of the most bizarre elements of Barcelona’s recent history is its management recruitment. First of all, there was the Ernesto Valverde situation. Then they sacked him and brought in Quique Setien from Betis. Setien was out of his depth and incapable of getting the best out of an unbalanced squad.

The Spaniard was only their fourth choice for the position. Furthermore, he never struck up a strong relationship with Barcelona’s best player and captain. The new manager Koeman is a stronger personality and has a history with the club but has already alienated himself from Messi.

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12. Guardiola

Speaking of managers, there is one that got the best out of Messi more than any other. We’re talking of course about Pep Guardiola. Furthermore, Manchester City is one of the few clubs in world soccer that could afford to pay Messi’s astronomical wages.

But Messi and Guardiola genuinely have a great relationship. If they could link up in the Premier League, it would be one of the most stunning turns of events in the history of soccer. The current global situation makes this unlikely but it is definitely an appealing and fascinating prospect.

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11. Power Move

There’s no doubt that Messi has also contrived this as a way to demonstrate his power to Barcelona officials. Firstly, the reaction of fans angrily protesting at Camp Nou proves this. If the club allows their star to leave then they will face a revolt. In sum, it’s that simple.

Many people believe that he will stay but it will make Josep Bartomeu’s position untenable. Messi has a fractious relationship with the Barcelona president. This is because the club has deteriorated under Bartomeu’s lack of strong leadership. It looks like Bartomeu is on his last legs.

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10. Not Interested

There will be a turnover of players this summer. New blood will come in with just seven players guaranteed of their futures at the club. Messi is one of these alongside goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Griezmann. But the idea of another transitional period doesn’t appeal to the Argentinian at all.

Transitions and success usually don’t come together. Furthermore, there is such a toxic atmosphere at the club right now that Messi has just had enough and wants to move on. The financial implications of a Messi transfer will likely mean that he stays in Barcelona but that may also damage the club.

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9. Competitor

First and foremost, Messi is a competitor. The Argentinian is also a realist. He knows that he is close to the end of his career. While he is definitely an elite star, it is true that his pace is not what it once was. That’s why he’s desperate to play for a competitive team and ideally one that he doesn’t have to carry.

At the end of the day, every soccer star wants to win trophies. When you’re an elite star like Messi, you specifically want Champion’s League titles and Ballon d’Or recognition. But if your team is struggling then it’s less likely that you’ll be able to compete for those honors.

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8. Club Divide

Clearly there is a divide between the board of directors and the playing staff. Bartomeu’s position looks increasingly untenable and will undoubtedly be a casualty when the new elections come around. Furthermore, this is not a new problem as recent history proves.

The club approached their legendary former midfielder Xavi to take the manager’s chair. However, he turned the club down because he wasn’t comfortable with the direction it was going. Meanwhile, another former star, Eric Abidal, damaged his reputation during his poor reign as the technical director. Nobody is happy.

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7. Ronaldo’s Success

Messi will also have an eye on his biggest rival. Cristiano Ronaldo is thriving in Italy with Juventus after leaving Real Madrid. While the Turin side also fell woefully short in their pursuit of the Champion’s League, Ronaldo did win back-to-back Serie A titles.

Furthermore, Inter Milan are ready to swoop for Messi if he leaves for free. Messi would relish the challenge of hoisting Inter back to the top of the Italian league and overcoming his Portuguese nemesis again. It would be quite the story even if the chances of it happening are low.

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6. Exciting Options

If – and it is a big if – Messi can walk away for nothing, then his options are very exciting. Firstly, there is Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. We’ve spoken about Inter Milan but Paris Saint-Germain’s financial power also makes them a realistic option.

Meanwhile, Messi spoke before about his interest in playing for David Beckham’s Inter Miami franchise. Finally, there’s the romantic option of returning to his native Rosario with Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. It may be too early for the latter clubs but it’s very fun to speculate.

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5. Legacy

Messi knows that the next two seasons could define his legacy. The World Cup is fast approaching and it’s his last chance to win a senior honor with his nation. Furthermore, he will want to make the most of his remaining peak years at a club level. But that may not be with Barcelona.

He has already won the most Ballon d’Or trophies in the history of the award. However, he looks increasingly unlikely to add to that because of Barcelona’s stagnation. Only time will tell where he ends up. Messi does not want to settle for being second best.

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4. Gross Mismanagement

Years of mismanagement have eroded Barcelona’s status as one of the strongest clubs in world soccer. Their transfer record over the past four years is nothing short of abysmal. PSG forced them to sell Neymar so they panicked and threw $150 million at Liverpool for Coutinho.

They then proceeded to send their record signing on loan to Bayern Munich after a poor season. Of course, Coutinho scored two goals in Munich’s crushing 8-2 win over Barcelona. Furthermore, they now have to pay Liverpool over $5 million because the transfer had a Champion’s League winning clause. Simply appalling.

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3. Carrying the Team

Few players are under as much pressure as Messi. He is Barcelona’s main man through and through. Nobody else in the squad is capable of producing the same moments of genius. But carrying a team for so long will take its toll on the Argentinian. In sum, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had enough.

Furthermore, some analysts have suggested Messi is a problem for Barcelona. Often other players pass to him instead of taking another better option. It’s clear that the two parties have a complicated relationship. All good things come to an end.

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2. Too Late

There is a sense that it’s too late for all parties now to step back. Everybody has played their hands and nobody wants to look weak. However, it’s 2020, and player power has never been stronger. You get the feeling that Messi will get whatever he wants in the end.

The big question is does he actually want to leave? If so, then it will be difficult to keep him because of the dominance he has over the locker room. But even if his intentions are political, he will still win the battle. At the end of the day, the fans care about Messi, not suits.

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1. Nothing to Prove

Finally, Messi has nothing left to prove in Barcelona. Yes, the team should have been more competitive in Europe over the past few years. But he helped inspire them to a golden era of soccer. During his greatest years under Pep Guardiola, they were a true powerhouse.

If he leaves, fans are unlikely to react badly. At least not in his direction. The man is a living legend and it’s almost impossible to envisage him in another team’s shirt. But that may well be the case. However, he has given Barcelona countless incredible moments.

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20 Reasons Lionel Messi Wants To Leave Barcelona

20 Reasons Lionel Messi Wants To Leave Barcelona

20. Frustration

19. No Vision

18. Luis Suarez

17. Now or Never

16. Koeman’s Mistake

15. Disrespect

14. Wasted Years

13. Weak Managers

12. Guardiola

11. Power Move

10. Not Interested

9. Competitor

8. Club Divide

7. Ronaldo’s Success

6. Exciting Options

5. Legacy

4. Gross Mismanagement

3. Carrying the Team

2. Too Late

1. Nothing to Prove

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