7) Jordi Alba
One of the oldest players in the squad, and one of the best, Jordi Alba, wrote a heartfelt paragraph for Lionel Messi on his departure. The two shared a special bond on the field, and off it as well. They were inseparable on the field, as Alba knew exactly where to find Messi, and the Argentine never let him down either. Most of Alba’s assists have been to Messi, and this is a connection we will no longer enjoy from next season onwards. He wrote on Instagram,
"“What a privilege to have been able to share these 9 seasons together. I was lucky enough to have been there in person to see your first goal in 2005 vs Albacete and I never thought that one day we would have that mutual feeling that with just one look we understood each other .. You aren’t just the best player in history but also an exceptional human being”"
Alba is currently one of the starters for the Catalans however, Ronald Koeman has been looking to replace him. Alba’s unique playstyle is what keeps him in the team, and his numerous assists from the wing-back position cement his position in the first team. However, with the departure of Messi, he will need to build up chemistry with the new forwards in the team, and continue performing alongside them.