Lionel Messi’s horrific decisions will cost Barcelona dear

 Barcelona are under pressure from all corners at the moment.

Barcelona got off to a flying restart to La Liga as they smashed Mallorca 4-0 to extend a temporary lead of five points over second-placed Real Madrid. Arturo Vidal, Martin Braithwaite, Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi were all on target in a match that also marked Luis Suarez’s return to the fray after a lengthy layoff due to his major injury.

More from Everything Barca

• FC Barcelona tracking Belgian Wonderkid
• FC Barcelona vs Betis Player Ratings
• Barça boss Xavi to get contract extension
• FC Barcelona planning swoop for Arsenal midfielder
• Barcelona interested in €30 million wonderkid

With things now well and truly running at the club, it’s time that they look at transfers and there’s no doubt that Messi will have a big say in matters. Moreover, the Argentina international’s contract renewal too is on the cards and to ensure that he plays alongside a well-delivering squad, it’s necessary that he Barca satisfy him.

Diario GOL has claimed that the Barcelona captain has vetoed Fabian Ruiz’s arrival and instead asks the club to go for Lautaro Martinez and Neymar, who can add much-needed attacking powers to their side. The South Americans have been on the Blaugrana’s radar for well over a few months but landing them together in one go is no more than a distant hope for them.

Inter Milan’s lethal marksman will be prioritized over his Brazilian counterpart, but it’s absurd to see the La Liga leaders listening to their greatest ever player when their need of the hour is a midfielder. With Ivan Rakitic ageing and Arthur Melo potentially headed to Juventus, Barca need an attacking midfielder and Fabian Ruiz would have been a sensational addition.

Quique Setien has already worked with the former Real Betis midfielder during their time at Seville and was thought to have already convinced him into joining, but nevertheless, the move may now not go ahead as the club hopes to get Messi’s compatriot for a whopping sum of 110 million euros and complement his arrival with that of Paris Saint-Germain ace Neymar.

Messi is not bigger than the club and isn’t right this time out

Setien certainly needs to add squad depth to his roster, but just buying lucrative attackers is not going to do much good as it’s imperative that defenders and midfielders are signed too. Barca have not been solid nor have they been creative, with one of the chief reasons being that their players are either old or have been overworked.

Messi definitely needs to be kept happy, but that should not come at the cost of Barca’s long-term goals or put them under any more financial duress with regard to what they are suffering. Plus, expensive signings will only go on to create a sense among the players thinking that the club can afford to make lucrative transfers, but had forced them to accept a huge pay cut.

Which players do you think should be signed by the board this summer?