Lionel Messi has been a marquee player for Barcelona for almost a decade now. The La Masia graduate is undoubtedly the most talented player in the world and he has always proclaimed that the Catalan club is the one that he loves. However, this narrative changed last year when the 34-year-old player decided that it would be best for him to leave the club and search for a new challenge.
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There were many reasons as to why the eternal captain of the club wanted to leave the team where he grew up, management being one of them. Messi stated in an interview last year that he was not satisfied with the way the Barca board was handling the problems in the club. Instead of properly recognizing the weak areas of the team and forming a well throughout plan, the club was just pouring money into big transfers in hopes of getting a quick fix.
This along with the fact that the Catalans were no longer playing like an elite team in Europe, made Messi feel frustrated to the point where he filed an official request for the termination of his contract. However, due to legal reasons he stayed on at the club and it may have been a blessing in disguise for him, as he went on to be the most influential player last season in the La Liga, and he bagged the most number of goals in the league.
The player once again showed the world just how important he is to Barcelona. It would be a huge loss for the club if they lost the player on a free transfer however, if the Argentine does decide to stay on, it will be a big boost for the club. Let’s look at some of the ways the Catalan Kings will benefit if Messi decides to stay on.
#1 No Loss of Leadership
Lionel Messi has worn the captain’s armband since 2018. The magician inherited the captain’s armband from former legend, Andres Iniesta. Since then, the mercurial forward has led the team to a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey title as well as a Supercopa de Espana title. The 34-year-old has managed his team quite well and with youngsters as well as new faces coming into the squad, Messi will need to manage the team and build up the chemistry of the squad.
In the last season, youngsters such as Pedri and Ansu Fati flourished under the guidance of their captain and they will be hoping to have him next season as well. It was not just the youngsters however, the whole team played much better than expected and they even managed to lift a trophy with their new manager. Messi is a leader and captain, not only for his club, but for his nation as well. Without him, there will be some dysfunctionality in the team however, players such as Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Marc Andre Ter Stegen could also pick up the armband.
#2 Mentor for the Youths of the Club
Lionel Messi is not only an idol for fans, but he is also a mentor for all the young talents at the club, at the moment. Players like Fati and Pedri had brilliant seasons under the guidance of Messi. Although Fati had a serious injury early into the season, the confidence and grace with which the player was playing was second to none.
Pedri was also one of the most important players for the Catalans last season at the age of just 18 years. There is no telling just how good these players can be when they hit their prime; however, for them to succeed in the top-level, they need a good mentor like Messi.
The Argentine also had a terrific mentor, Ronaldinho, when he had broken into the first team, so the player knows that without a good role model, even the best players can fail to live up to their potential. With the amount of talent at Barcelona right now, they will all greatly benefit from keeping Messi at the club.
#3 The Argentine connection
Now that Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Sergio Aguero, we are all eager to see the Argentine striker pair up with his compatriot at the Camp Nou. The two are very close friends and they have been seen together many times on social media. The former Manchester City striker even called up the six-time Ballon d’Or winner on his live stream once. This should not be surprising as their relationship goes back to 2005, when the pair were playing together in the U21 squads of Argentina. The two have a legendary friendship although it has not always transferred onto the pitch.
The two do not have a very good assist ratio to each other, although they have played a plethora of matches together for Argentina. This could all change, however, as the 32-year-old is looking to emulate what Luis Suarez did for Atletico Madrid. We all want to see the two play together at club level finally, and it could very well be a deadly combination. Aguero has also been trying to convince Messi into staying and we all hope that he can persuade his friend in the end.
#4 Financial benefits
Although keeping the player will be a tough toll for the club, which is going through a severe financial depression, Messi will always help the club break even. Ticket sales will rise as the Spanish government has allowed fans to return to the stadiums and Barcelona fans will surely be dying to see Messi in real life again. Apart from that, Messi is also the player who makes the most number of shirt sales.
According to a report last year, 9 out of 10 shirts that are sold have Messi’s name written on it. This is a huge form of income for the Catalans and losing him would mean losing out on this outlet as well. Apart from that, the Catalan captain also has clauses regarding sponsors wherein the sponsors must pay extra if they want Messi to endorse the product. Yes, Messi’s wages are very high compared to the others, however, he also brings in a lot of money for the club which the others cannot offer.
#5 Goals galore
Yes, Messi can bring in a lot of sponsors, he can lift the status of the club, he can captain the side however, at the end of the day, Messi is a player who will guarantee goals. The player has won the Pichichi trophy five times in a row now. With 30 goals last season, the player was miles better than anyone else. Messi has the uncanny ability to score out of nowhere, breaking down stubborn defenses, and just dribbling past top-tier defenders as if they were not even on the field.
Yes, Messi is the most talented player in the world even at the age of 34 and it doesn’t seem like he is in the mood for stopping soon. He made some suggestions that he wants to play in the MLS however, after his performance last season, it is unlikely that he will leave top-level football so early. Barcelona will lose their best-performing player if the Argentine refuses to extend his contract and obviously, that will be a huge hit for the team. It will affect the team mentally as well as chemistry wise and it will be a long and tough journey forward without their starlet.
Are you excited to see Lionel Messi continue at Barca?