‘Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave’
BARCELONA:Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club after nearly two decades with the Spanish giants. The club confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Argentina great sent a document expressing his desire to leave.
The announcement comes 11 days after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, one of the worst defeats in the player’s career and in the club’s history. The defeat capped a difficult season for Barcelona — the first without a title since 2007-08—and ignited one of its worst crises ever.
Messi has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards during his time at Barcelona as the top player in the world, and has helped the club win 10 Spanish league titles and four Champions League crowns.
Earlier, reports in the Spanish press said that Messi has conveyed his decision to new coach Ronald Koeman.
Among the clubs said to be interested in Messi—and can afford his wages—are Manchester
City, Inter Milan and PSG.
At, City Pep Guardiola will hope he can get Messi to come to England and reunite with him. At PSG, runners-up in the Champions League on Sunday, coach Thomas Tuchel has said he would welcome Messi at the club which also has Messi’s friend Neyamr.
The heights of Messi’s career at Barcelona was between 2008 and 2012 where he formed the envious partnership with Xavi Hernandes, Andres Iniesta and Dani Alves. In all those years, that team won 13 out of the possible 16 tournaments. And all of this was achieved under Guardiola. Manchester City would be hoping that can ring true for them as well.
The report further stated that Messi will execute the clause in his contract that allows him to terminate the relationship unilaterally at the end of each season. The report states that Messi has informed Barcelona of his decision.
With Koeman taking charge, he has reportedly made it clear to senior players like Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez while also telling Arturo Vidal and Samuel Umtiti that they will not be a part of his project at the Catalan club.
SUAREZ TOO COULD GO
After six years sprinkled with goals that have brought Barcelona 13 trophies, Suarez too may be heading for an unceremonious exit from the Camp Nou. The Uruguayan was Barca’s second-highest scorer last season behind Messi. But speculation about his future has grown since he was absent from a list of players Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu declared were not for sale as he promised big changes after the side’s seismic 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Catalan radio station Rac1 reported on Monday that the striker had been told by new Barca coach Ronald Koeman that he was not in his plans for next season. Spain’s sports papers followed suit on Tuesday: “Adios Suarez” read the front cover of Barcelona-based Sport, while the 33-year-old also appeared on the front of the other three national sports dailies. “Koeman doesn’t want them”, said Mundo Deportivo, picturing Suarez, midfielders Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal and defender Samuel Umtiti.