Nah President will go, Xavi is coming in next season and no doubt messi will stay. It was also a political thing in my opinion. If Messi wanted to leave he could have told them she’s ago, I doubt the 1 result against Bayern was a thing that made him wanna go. Prob knew time had gone, wasn’t going to be allowed to leave and got the fans on his side rather than the presidents.
I’m not having that the entire saga was merely political. I think he genuinely wanted away this time. Only they patently either ****ed up over the clause or he decided definitively after its expiry date. The scenario you paint there is possible though, but it always was.
I agree. He's been there 20 years. Why would he want to leave now to fizzle out overseas somewhere? It's absolutely political.
The whole drama today was carefully choreographed by the Messi team with the support of the club. First the Messi team comes out with a dry but categorical statement that Messi had the right legally to leave on a free as the season ended late. Most observers at that point thought that was a declaration of war as it flatly contradicted the club. Then within a couple of hours he came out to say that he is staying. Why does this seem like an exercise in saving face? Messi really saying that despite being in the right and wanting to leave, he is staying because of loyalty and reluctance to take the club to court. it remains to be seen whether the club is the winner in the end. They have to pay him nearly 100m and everyone now knows his heart is not in it. And at the end of the season he can leave for free. Are Barcelona not just delaying the inevitable chaos and rebuilding?
Isn't there a third split...? Foreigners, home grown (trained by any English or Welsh club as a youngster) and home produced (trained by the club they're playing for)...? Or have I imagined this...?
Ive said it before, but where exactly is messi going to go where he would get the same money, influence and prestige that he has at barca. The whole city thing was a red herring, can you really see city, one of the best pressing teams ever, changing to carry messi for one maybe two seasons. His time is over, he just doesn't realise it yet.
Could be, it wasn't mentioned on a recent Anfield wrap piece on this but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist
I think that Messi is so exceptional that any team he is playing for will be chasing trophies assuming the team has other decent players.For me he is and remains the best footballer of all time. He has carried Barcelona for many years and can still do a great job for any club. He wouldn’t need to do that with City. With Messi City would walk the premiership and the champions league. I for one am really glad that Messi is not going to City.
Messi changed his mind when he remembered he'd have to play against robbo at Anfield again. Good player but obviously a massive pussy
Agree with some of this and disagree with some. I think Messi is still a remarkable footballer (I watch Barca games in La Liga just to watch Messi while he is still around) I don't really agree he has carried Barca for many years...The Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets etc. side was just a legendary team that will be revered for decades to come as one of the greatest teams. I don't think City would walk the Prem. and CL with him either, it's just not that simple. Best of all time?....impossible to say considering many contenders from different eras in different sides. He is probably the footballer I have enjoyed watching most in world football over the last 15 years or so though. He would still walk into any team anywhere.
I mean they were both incredible. But messi is the best player of all time. You can’t say xavi and iniesta were the star players of that team when messi was in it.
Well said. They were great players but they were not the once in a generation or even century type of players which could turn any match in an instant. Messi is a different class of player. It is like comparing a Bugatti veron to an expensive Mercedes AMG. The unique exceptional v the very good/great.
It could be said that Xavi and Iniesta made Messi, they taught him how to play and think. Yes he has enormous, unbelievable talent but it could have all gone to waste without those two leading the way.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, perhaps one of the best sources for transfer news around, has teased Liverpool fans with a message about Thiago Alcantara. Liverpool are reportedly set to make a new bid for Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara, according to the very reliable Fabrizio Romano. The Italian journalist tweeted an update on the Reds’ pursuit of the midfielder and suggested an offer has already been rejected. please log in to view this image Reds.ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1301974166116147200|twgr^share_3&ref_url=https://www.empireofthekop.com/2020/09/04/image-fabrizio-romano-drops-cryptic-thiago-message-after-confirming-havertz-transfer/ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhGKmdQXgAAdIPd?format=jpg&name=medium
I don't like that term, its too debtable. You could say the same about a few players, Pele and Maradona (who both won WCs btw) for a start. Is he the best of his generation? Again some would argue, C Ronaldo would be mentioned. Trying to find or claim 'the best ever' is wrong, different eras, different styles, different football. Would Messi have surived the old school football of yester year, would Pele have been even better if he'd come through the modern era with all its advancements. Who knows, and that's why there will never be a GOAT. Messi is (was?) however a great player
