Barcelona shortlist two candidates as successors for Lionel Messi
Barcelona risk losing their greatest ever player in less than one year and have prepared to look for replacements for him.
Barcelona were about to part company with Lionel Messi in the summer amid the captain’s desire to leave, but a quarrel regarding his contract forced the Argentine to either resort to legal action or stay until June 2021. Messi chose the latter but he has certainly not started the season well, thereby raising doubts over his motivation to play for the club.
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With that said, the Blaugrana thankfully have Ansu Fati on their roster who is gradually showing that he is capable of matching or at least closely following the 33-year-old’s historic legacy at the Camp Nou. However, to replace a player who has done so much for the club, the Catalans may need to turn to alternate options and they have two in mind.
According to reports, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund ace Youssoufa Moukoko are the names in question. The France international has already won the World Cup and reached a Champions League final at 21 but he is certainly not done, thanks to the exquisite qualities he possesses.
On the flipside, the Dortmund forward has made the headlines with his exploits in Germany. Although Moukoko is yet to feature for the Bundesliga side’s senior outfit, he has some mercurial goal-scoring numbers with the junior ranks and has earned himself a place in Lucien Favre’s European squad for the 2020/21 campaign.
While the two are certainly great options, signing Mbappe does not look likely for Barca. Real Madrid are almost desperate to sign him and will do anything within their powers to go the distance for him and the player seems to reciprocate the Whites’ interest in his services. Moukoko is surely a solid choice, but how he develops in the first-team is still to be seen.
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Do you think the Messi will depart Barca following the end of his current contract?