Messi could have played his final Champions League home game for Barcelona.
A couple of days removed from Barcelona’s Champions League defeat, this time at the hands of PSG, the fallout continues.
This time, it comes from former Barça player Rivaldo, who spoke following the 4-1 loss. According to the Brazilian striker, Lionel Messi will leave Barca at the end of the season and join PSG.
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"“The thrashing will most likely be Messi’s last Champions League game with Barcelona at the Camp Nou,” said Rivaldo. “Barcelona can’t give Messi the hope of having a fighting chance of any important title.“His future is at PSG, even more having seen their exhibition at Camp Nou. It’s a team that can give him the chance to win titles.”Source: Sport"
Rivaldo did not hold back and went on to say that there are no players in the squad who believe a comeback is possible.
He also alluded to the years of Messi carrying the team and then this season, practically giving away Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid.
There can be little doubt that Messi is tired of being on the wrong side of things in the Champions League for the last couple of seasons. It’s one thing to be eliminated because of how strong the competition is. It’s quite another in the fashion the Catalans have gone out the last three years.
The last time Messi, and Blaugrana, won the Champions League was back in 2015. Assuming there is no comeback, it will have been six years since they last won it. Messi was 28.
For what it’s worth, the player himself has yet to give any indicators about his future only stating that he will do so at the end of the season. The consensus is that he is set to wait until a new president is elected and hear their sporting project before making a final decision.
PSG and Manchester City are the two favorites to land the Argentine should he decide to leave.
Rivaldo’s words may cut deep for Barca supporters. But he is not wrong. If Messi wants to win important titles, and unless there is some magic turn around with a new president, his best chance may be away from the Camp Nou.