Lionel Messi stays at Barcelona: What would be the consequences?

 

In one of the biggest dramas of this season and perhaps in the history of football, finally, it ended by Lionel Messi deciding to stay in Camp Nou. Since that 8-2 thrashing against Bayern Munich in Lisbon, the Messi leaving Barcelona saga took over and overshadowed the disgrace. The world is familiar with such drama in the past, but after this new drama, the majority understood the real meaning of all these speculations and throwing mud at each other.

Messi would stay in Barcelona and those people who are tagged as the harsh critics of Messi kept on saying that he lacks the gut to leave this club and play somewhere else proved right. Yes, his fans and well-wishers would certainly want to save their beloved hero by dishing out the loyalty issue, but deep down, they also know, Messi has become a loser.

But Messi is not the only loser.

Marca stated, “Rather than end the crisis with his intervention on Friday evening, Lionel Messi has pulled even further at the stitching of a club that has been in trouble for too many months. He himself is one of the losers in all of this because it's clear that he wanted to leave Barcelona, even if he spoke of it being his lifelong club. He hasn't even cleared up if he will or will not leave once his contractual situation allows him to next summer. Many Barcelona fans have felt abandoned by the club legend.”

“Josep Maria Bartomeu also comes out of this as one of the losers. The fact that he has survived this, by threatening to take the matter all the way to court, and that he isn't going down as the president who let the star leave could bring personal relief and calm. However, Messi hit out at the club president in his interview. Now, the captain and president will have to try to live together over the course of the next few months. If Bartomeu was already finding it difficult to justify his management, the comments from Messi about him only make it worse. He has been condemned to being remembered as a damaging president.”

“Then, the institution of Barcelona also comes out of this with a defeat. Not only were they talked about across the globe for the sporting humiliation suffered with the 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich, but now they've been at the center of this global story. Part of the discussion has been about the club's finances. But, it's sentimentally that Barcelona have been hurt the most. This entire episode was hugely distressful for all the club's fans. The Barcelona badge should be above everything and everyone.”

Then there are risks of consequences of Messi staying in Barcelona.

Marca stated accordingly:

Financial limits

As COVID-19 has huge impacts on cubs' accounts, the club will have to accept that they'll spend at least 100 million euros as a result of Messi.

That's how much they'll fork out on his salary, while no transfer fee will arrive for him.

Potential signings like Lautaro Martinez, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Memphis Depay now appear more unlikely than before.

Institutional cracks

Messi is staying, but he's taking shots at those above him at the club.

"The truth is that there has been no project or anything for a long time," he told Goal.com.

"They juggle and cover holes as things go by".

The relationship between Bartomeu couldn't have been more damaged and there will undoubtedly be a lot of people looking forward to the March elections.

Fans divided

The various chapters to have unfolded over the last few weeks have left the supporters torn as well.

Messi's critics have increased in their number of late, and bad performances could now prompt a reaction that he's never had to deal with before.

Messi might not be as untouchable as he has been.

Dressing room atmosphere

The captain is staying, but it's likely that some of his teammates and best friends will leave.

All eyes are now on Luis Suarez, who looks likely to leave soon, while Arturo Vidal is another Messi ally who looks certain to be on the way out.

Only Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are expected to stay on.

As for the coach, Ronald Koeman's strong character was known before he took the job and he wasted no time in showing it, even to Messi himself.

The relationship between the coach and his No.10 will be key to deciding how the 2020/21 season unfolds.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 06/09/2020 Lionel Messi stays at Barcelona: What would be the consequences?

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Faisal Caesar