Lionel Messi - v7

[Horatio]

Hope he changes his mind if he is considering staying. It's nothing more than a pure waste.

Messi is not making this decision purely on sporting grounds. Already said his wife and kids want to stay in Barca and he loves the city as well.
Could easily be enough for him to stay.

 

[Neeraj]

Shame the interviewer didn't ask him about the likes of Pedri/Ansu/Araujo...would have liked to hear what he would have to say about them.

Too busy asking him if he's scared of death. *facepalm*

 

[xxxxxx]

He's definitely gonna stay lol.

-If Laporta wins he's going to convince him to stay as they have a great relationship and Laporta will promise him a great sporting project while he is here.

-If Font wins, Xavi will likely convince him to give it another year and be a leader for the early days of Xavi's Barca.

I've always said this cat isn't going to leave us before the 2022 world cup.

Font or Laporta can't offer him a good sporting project. Those sporting projects need money to compete. Also, those sporting projects take time.... time Messi doesn't have. Messi may want to leave for another team for 3 years and then come back to Barcelona and help with those sporting projects. We'll probably be in a much better position in like 3 or 4 years.

We also can't afford to keep Messi. He's on too much money. Even if he takes a salary reduction of 50%, he's still going to be on too much. We should let him go and invest that money into the squad.

 

[serghei]

While I have clearly been in the 'Messi is hindering us' camp, I think there are ways to make it work.

If used correctly and with the correct kind of players around him, Messi is still a great player. The problem is, aside from the significant overhaul that is needed, you need a manager who has not only the balls but the mandate to bench Messi.

It needs to be "Messi first sub off" strategy. You need to keep looking for ways to not play him, than the other way around. Saved up for big games, asked to run more for 60 minutes before being subbed off, have a clear plan instead of this 'floating role', not playing Copa games, etc. You do all of this, and I'm more than happy for him to stay with us until he goes to MLS.

However, those of us who think it's best for him to leave are mostly pessimistic about that happening. If it's a similar Messi-centric approach next year, then we're screwed.

You can't actually have a good relationship with Messi if you bench him. That's like the shortest road to a conflict. Every smart manager knows that Messi needs to play or else conflict will appear inside the locker-room.

 

[Devils]

Hope he changes his mind if he is considering staying. It's nothing more than a pure waste.

I think he clearly highlighted that his problem was with Barto and co.

He believes in Koeman's project and is open to talking with the President.

Next year with the new president, new sporting project, fans coming back to stadiums, his family wanting to stay in BCN etc...he will probably end up staying.

 

[Neeraj]

I think he clearly highlighted that his problem was with Barto and co.

He believes in Koeman's project and is open to talking with the President.

Next year with the new president, new sporting project, fans coming back to stadiums, his family wanting to stay in BCN etc...he will probably end up staying.

Don't think I agree with the assessment on Koeman. You could see him searching for words and it was quite difficult for him to answer. If you're clearly on board someone's project, that is not the kind of response you'd give. At least that's what I took away from it.

 

[KingLeo10]

Clearly an absolutely immense player in Barcelona history and I'm thankful for his services but we need him to leave this summer and preferably leave with some cash coming our way.

And please no Neymar. At any cost.

 

[te amo barca]

He will leave. He cannot openly say he would leave mid season, it would botch the locker room atmosphere as he is the captain and, well, Messi. It would attract unneeded attention to him and the team as well.

 

[Neeraj]

You can't actually have a good relationship with Messi if you bench him. That's like the shortest road to a conflict. Every smart manager knows that Messi needs to play or else conflict will appear inside the locker-room.

Yeah so there has to be a change. I think there has to be some long term planning, wherein everyone sits down and is honest with their expectations. He tells Font/Xavi/Laporta/whoever it's going to be - look I will be here until the WC and then I'm off to the USA. Until then, how do we not get embarrassed?

And then the club tells him - look we're happy to have you BUT we need X,Y,Z. You need to start getting benched, etc.

They need to thrash this out. The best opportunity to do that is now, when there is a literal change in institution. Not saying Messi will accept, but that's the only way this works.

 

[serghei]

What he needs to do is accept the situation of the club. He doesn't have anything left to prove. Accept the pay cut, and help the young players get better. Be an example for them. Nobody expects Messi to be a savior, except some clueless fans who are detached from reality.

But he doesn't seem to want to do that, because he thinks he is still good enough to win CLs and things like that. And he doesn't want to sacrifice his last 2-3 seasons for Barcelona. So, he's pressuring the club in a "get better fast or I'm out" type of situation.

He's a bit delusional as well imo. He takes the things Barca did for him for granted.

 

[xxxxxx]

I think he clearly highlighted that his problem was with Barto and co.

He believes in Koeman's project and is open to talking with the President.

Next year with the new president, new sporting project, fans coming back to stadiums, his family wanting to stay in BCN etc...he will probably end up staying.

He's already admitted that even with a new president that we can't compete. We have no money, and we certainly don't have the team to compete. We also can't afford to keep Messi. I would be fuming if we still pay Messi close to what he's getting now. No 34-year-old should be getting over 500k a week. Heck, no 34-year-old should be getting over 300k a week, especially when we're in a terrible situation. If the new president does offer him 500k a week, then they're not the right people for the job.

If Messi stays, it'll be because he can't be bothered to move to another country due to his age.

 

[Horatio]

What a useless interview this was, geez.

 

[fergus90]

"I have a great relationship with the players especially with the La Masia graduates, even though they are less in number."

In b4 the next president promises Sergi Samper, Cristian Tello and Dongou.

 

[Rory]

What he needs to do is accept the situation of the club. He doesn't have anything left to prove. Accept the pay cut, and help the young players get better. Be an example for them. Nobody expects Messi to be a savior, except some clueless fans who are detached from reality.

But he doesn't seem to want to do that, because he thinks he is still good enough to win CLs and things like that. And he doesn't want to sacrifice his last 2-3 seasons for Barcelona. So, he's pressuring the club in a "get better fast or I'm out" type of situation.

He's a bit delusional as well imo. He takes the things Barca did for him for granted.

What paycut for a new contract at Barca has Messi refused?

 

[Daniele]

it is obvious that he still hopes to win something important, CL or titles with the national team, before finishing.
He is leo fucking messi, one of the greatest players in history:
anyone in his position would have the same aspirations.
does it really surprise you??