Latest Barcelona performances have raised doubt over Lionel Messi’s future.
Real Madrid have officially won their 34th La Liga title after Quique Setien’s Barcelona slipped their lead with a series of disappointing performances since the league’s restart. Initially, the Spanish coach’s future was at risk with both the board and the squad keeping a close eye on his footballing methods.
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While many believed that the Catalan side will appoint a new coach for next season, the club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, has given his full support to the 61-year-old. Reports also claimed that the coach had only till the end of La Liga to prove his worth, and if he failed, the Barca ‘B’ coach, Francisco Javier García Pimienta, would be appointed to prepare for the Champions League.
Well, the fate of the Spanish League has finally been concluded with Zinadine Zidane’s Los Blancos being hailed champions after drastically improving over their rivals and going undefeated since the restart.
Lionel Messi, the captain of Football Club Barcelona has been vocal, since before the shutdown, about the club’s performance and how their current playstyle has no chance of winning the Champions League.
After the surprising defeat against 11th place Osasuna, the Argentine maestro commented on their performance and what’s next for Barca,
"“”I said a while ago that if we carry on like this it will be very hard for us to win the Champions League,” Messi said post-match, Source Mirror. “We didn’t expect to finish in this way, but it sums up the year for us. We are a weak team who can be beaten with enough intensity and enthusiasm. We need to be self-critical, starting with the players, but also across the entire club.” He continued Source BBC"
It is clear that the club are in need of a massive restructuring starting with the board with president Bartomeu up for elections next season. Many are hoping that a newly elected president will bring in a new era of football at Camp Nou but the question remains whether the 33-year-old Messi still wants to be a part of it.
As sad as it is, the reality is that Messi, like any other footballer, will have to one day hang his boot; and with only a few years remaining under his belt, how does the magician want to spend his remaining seasons?
There is a real sense of concern at the Catalan side with regards to their no. 10 with Messi having the option to leave the club for another if he does not feel that the squad has any chance at another European glory in the next few years.
Former Blaugrana president, Joan Laporta, reveals that he is scared of the possibility that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner may, in fact, choose to leave after being left frustrated by the current board.
"“I want him to stay in 2021 but I am scared that a bad decision of this board could result in an irreversible decision,” Laporta spoke at an event. Source Goal"
Laporta was Barca president from 2003 to 2010 and was succeeded by Sandro Rosell. While the 58-year-old is planning to run for presidentship once again in 2021 by promising great things, he has once criticized by his board members, including Rosell, for completely turning his philosophy for the worse after craving more power and authority.
While it remains to be seen how the Blaugrana hierarchy shifts next season, Messi’s future still remains uncertain with the current board surely looking to convince the Argentine to renew.
How many more years will Messi remain at Barca?