Lionel Messi bars five players from departing Barcelona this summer

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has provided his verdict to the club’s officials on who he feels must have a future at the club despite poor displays.

Barcelona are currently on top of La Liga, meaning that the title’s fate is in their own hands. However, with the suspension of several leagues across Europe, it is thought that there will be no champion crowned and there will be a fresh season that starts in August. Regardless of the outcome of this campaign, the club is expected to have a revolutionary summer.

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Quique Setien will have his first full transfer window as the Catalans’ manager and thus, it will be interesting to see how he reacts. The former Real Betis manager is likely to invest in a striker who will cost heavily. A move for a central defender seems on the cards as well, as does one for a right full back. That being said, Neymar is also on Barca’s radar.

With several new arrivals being looked forward to in the summer, the Blaugrana will be getting rid of some deadweight too. Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele could be the club’s most expensive sales. The forwards could be followed towards the exit door by Samuel Umtiti and Ivan Rakitic, who both are struggling to get minutes.

Don Balon has claimed that Barcelona’s captain Lionel Messi has deemed five of the club’s players as untouchables and specially requested the board of directors to ensure that they stay. Messi’s demands at the Camp Nou are usually respected, but how the most recent one pans out will be really interesting to see given that many players are ageing,

Luis Suarez, who is the Argentina international’s best friend on and off the pitch will not be sold by Barcelona on Lionel Messi’s demand. The Uruguay international has slowed down since the last couple of months and will be replaced imminently, but now that the club’s most important figure has had his say, things may take a twist.

Secondly, Jordi Alba will also stay in spite of the fact that he is in his thirties and has become prone to injuries. The former Valencia defender has suffered a lapse of muscular injuries, but he has not shown signs of a let down. Barca were anyways not planning to replace him anytime soon, so it’s quite foreseeable to see him continuing as the first choice.

Next, Lionel Messi feels that Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets must be at the Camp Nou even though the Spaniards have visibly slowed down since age has caught up. The Barca captain is not as close to the defensive players as he was before, but still values their contribution and sees a place in the squad for the duo.

Finally, Frenkie de Jong will have Messi’s backing. The Netherlands international has come under the scanner of late following some poor performances. De Jong’s comparisons with Federico Valverde have seen the latter have an upper hand, but Leo believes that if the former Ajax Amsterdam superstar will meet expectations if he’s given time and support.

Next. Man City defender given the green light by Pep to join Barca. dark

Do you think Messi’s five chosen men will stay at the Camp Nou for next season?

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