Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi have a long history together so it was good to see the wing-back pay the captain some homage during his recent interview with SPORT.
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The 31-year-old Spaniard is one of the oldest in the squad and is also one of the closest players to the Argentine legend. Everyone in Barcelona are worried about the same thing at the moment, will Messi stay or will he leave at the end of the season.
Thus, it is crucial that players who have a good relationship with the club captain, persuade him to stay with the Catalans. Joan Laporta has also made it his main goal to keep the mercurial star with his boyhood club but that task will be harder than it looks.
Jordi Alba hope Lionel Messi will stay on after the season’s end.
As for Alba, the player has immense respect for his captain and made it clear that although he wants Messi to stay on, he will also respect the captain’s wishes should he choose to move on to another club. He said in the interview,
"“I hope he continues with us. He’s one of a kind, the best in the world and I hope he stays, but it’s a decision he must make himself and that should be respected.“Whatever happens, we have to accept it. But above all he is a person and a player that loves Barça, that is happy here and that has always shown that with the level he’s given during all these years.”Source SPORT"
Alba went on to say that the two have always had a great relationship on-field and off-field. The left-back then went on to talk about Ronald Koeman’s future. The former Everton coach had a rocky start to the season but has managed to salvage it at the later stages and could even go on to win the league with Atletico Madrid slips up once again.
The left-back said that he has been enjoying working under Koeman and that the former club legend has done a lot of good for the club however, the decision is not his to make. Should the manager be able to win a trophy this season, it would be hard to sack him and a trophy could also convince Messi into staying, thus the Catalans should aim for the double, which is very much achievable.
Do you think Barcelona can secure the double this season?