BARÇA FINALLY STARTS TO SEE THE LIGHT
Three years since Leo Messi said goodbye to FC Barcelona, what has changed since then?
On August 5, exactly three years ago, Lionel Messi left FC Barcelona and, to date, has not returned. Since then, many things have changed for both parties and Barça seems to have finally found his successor
August 5, 2021 is a day that will go down in Barcelona's history. After 17 years as a first-team player, the board announced that Lionel Messi would no longer be linked to the Blaugrana club after failing to reach a renewal agreement, so the best footballer of all time left Camp Nou as a free agent.
This decision was completely unexpected and took everyone by surprise. The team's statement at the time referred to "economic and structural obstacles", suggesting that the regulations imposed by LaLiga prevented the agreement with the player from being certified. The Argentine arrived on vacation with the intention of signing his extension, but found himself facing the exit door.
The club was unable to undertake this procedure, alleging the impossibility due to "the calamitous management of the previous board exceeding the salary limit." Laporta was blunt: "Barça is above the best player in the world." Messi was ready to start his 18th season at the club, but was forced to call it a day after 778 games, 672 goals and 305 assists.
During his time in Barcelona he won 10 leagues, seven cups, seven Spanish Super Cups, four Champions Leagues, three European Super Cups, three Club World Cups, six Ballon d'Ors (two more since his departure), one FIFA The Best (two more) and six Golden Boots.
An unforgettable farewell and a new era for Messi
Three days later, the Argentine said goodbye to the club in an emotional press conference at the Auditori 1899 at Camp Nou in one of the hardest images for Barcelona fans. The tears and sobs of the Rosario native in front of his family, the first team squad and the board of directors went around the world. "I've done everything possible; Barça, I don't know. I dropped 50% of my contract and nothing else was asked of me. Everything was done and arranged, but it didn't happen for LaLiga, I was convinced that I was staying," he said. Less than a week later, almost as the only alternative, Messi signed for Paris Saint-Germain where he never felt comfortable, despite winning two Ligue 1 titles and a French Super Cup.
Afterwards, the striker saw the option of returning to Barcelona for a 'last dance', but the option was losing weight due to the financial difficulties of the Blaugrana entity and Leo chose to go to Inter Miami of the MLS. The United States has welcomed him for the last two years, where he was able to win the Leagues Cup in 2023. During this time, he also won two Copa América, the Conmebol-UEFA Champions Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup with Argentina.
Barça seem to have found the heir to the '10'
Messi's departure was not easy for the club to assimilate, especially since it was added to the financial problems left by the previous administration. Despite everything, they have been recovering little by little under Laporta's leadership and this summer they are aiming for interesting objectives such as Dani Olmo and Nico Williams. In 2023 they won LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup, although it has cost them a lot to return to their best version in the Champions League.
Everything can change from the 2024/25 season, where the Blaugrana team will aim to return to the top under the tutelage of their new coach, Hansi Flick. The experienced German guided Bayern Munich to the sextet between 2020 and 2021 and hopes to emulate his success in Germany in Barcelona. In addition to this, Barça finally seems to have found the Argentine's successor in Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old has earned the affection of fans and the admiration of the entire world after his spectacular performances for the team and at Euro 2024, where they were crowned champions.
While it is true that Messi's departure meant the end of an era at Barcelona, his farewell is nothing more than life itself, proving that every cycle has a beginning and an end. The Argentine is expected to return to Spain in 2025, for a match in his honour that the club will organise against Inter Miami at the Camp Nou, although nothing has been set yet. We will find out soon.
