The star Argentine does not see himself in the same team with an old acquaintance.
The departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona in the summer of 2021 stunned the entire football community: it seemed that the Argentine striker and the Catalan club had become one, and Leo would play for the blue garnets until the end of his career. Nevertheless, due to the financial crisis at Barça, Messi had to leave – PSG signed a contract with the striker, in which Lionel spent one of the worst seasons of his career.
However, a year later, the Argentine still found himself in the Parisian club, starting to show his usual performance. However, due to fierce criticism from the fans and constant squabbles within the star team, Messi still does not feel comfortable, as football insiders have repeatedly reported. Apparently, Leo wants to return to Barca, but there is one “but” …
Messi is ready to move if a specific player leaves the Catalans squad.
Leo’s wife influenced the situation
According to Spanish media, Messi is not going to renew his contract with PSG, which expires in the summer of 2023. At the same time, Barcelona are sure that the Argentine wants to return to their club. However, as stated, Leo’s return will definitely not happen if … Gerard Pique remains in the Catalan team.
According to journalist Mark Marb, the star players stopped talking during Messi’s last season at Barça. The reasons for the difficult relationship between the players are unknown, but the press claims that several factors influenced the situation at once. Earlier this year, insider Luis Canut reported that Leo was disappointed in Pique because of the Spaniard’s refusal to take a pay cut so that Messi could stay at Barcelona.
And Gerard’s behavior was influenced, apparently, by Messi’s wife Antonella Roccuzzo, who was very close to Nuria Thomas, Pique’s ex-girlfriend. Gerard broke up with her because of an affair with the famous singer Shakira, whom he began dating before breaking up with Nuria. That is why, for example, Pique did not attend Messi’s wedding.
Does Barcelona need Messi?
There is no doubt that Lionel’s return to Barcelona will delight most fans and give the Catalan club an opportunity to capitalize on the Argentinian’s name once again. At the same time, it is unlikely that Barca will again decide to pay Messi a fabulous salary – next summer, the striker will turn 36 years old. Most likely, he himself will not demand space conditions under the contract.
However, this is where all the pluses end and an absolutely logical assumption appears as to whether the head coach of Barcelona Xavi needs Lionel at all? The Spaniard builds a certain system in the team, in which each player performs a specific function on the field – even such a star as Robert Lewandowski. It is unlikely that the appearance of a free artist in the Blue Garnet team, who has preferred to walk around the field in recent years, will please the Barca coaching staff.
Yes, a player of this caliber will certainly not interfere with the Catalan team – Leo is able to play at a high level for at least one more season. However, with a high degree of probability, the forward will have to make friends with the bench, which players with big egos do not like very much.
The management of Barcelona, apparently, will soon face a real dilemma: to return the legend of the club to the delight of the fans, risking the well-being of the team, or move on, creating a new page in their history.
