Lionel Messi’s 2021 Barcelona exit was nothing short of an earthquake for all culers. And then Leo’s teary press conference left even his most prominent critics sad. Four years have passed, Leo and Barca have gone their separate ways, but the wound still feels fresh. Was it betrayal by Barca or a necessary move to stay alive? And who really lost more: Messi or Barca? Let’s discuss the sad saga.
The Cold Business Decision That Shattered Barcelona’s Heart
Football these days is more business than a sport. Laporta, whose entire election campaign revolved around the motto of keeping Leo at Barca, was ultimately the one who made Leo go. Perhaps he didn’t want Messi to leave, but La Liga’s financial regulations posed a significant obstacle. La Liga and its FFP rules: Imagine having to offload your league’s most incredible talent ever just to comply with your financial regulations.
Barca was bleeding in a 1.4 billion Euros debt in 2021. But does that justify handing football’s greatest ever player a simple farewell? No proper send-off like Iniesta or Xavi. No Camp Nou chanting Leo’s name. Just a tearful press conference where Leo had no clue how to react. It was one of the saddest moments in Barcelona’s history.
Messi’s Exit Exposed Barça’s Broken Soul
Messi was not just Barcelona’s best player; he was the living, dribbling embodiment of Barca’s motto (Mes Que Un Club). Leo loved Barcelona like his family, and when he received the sudden news of leaving Catalonia, La Pulga was shell-shocked. The ‘mes que un club’ logo suddenly felt hollow. The financial mismanagement arc’s repercussions had officially started.
Leo left the club to join PSG, but his departure left Barcelona and himself in a crisis of identity. Messi struggled to settle into Paris. For months, Leo didn’t even live in a home but stayed at a hotel. Messi’s family was also disturbed by the sudden change of scenery and didn’t fit in Paris easily. At Barca, the academy magic suddenly faded. Ansu Fati got injured, Griezmann left and desperate signings like Luuk de Jong were forced. The Barcelona football got uglier and, worst of all, everyone saw it.
Messi vs. Barcelona: Who Needed Who More in the End?
The painful truth for every Barcelona fan is that Leo thrived after leaving the club. A World Cup. Two Ballon d’Ors and the World Cup Golden Ball. He proved that he still had two or three good years of his prime in him. He’s currently at Inter Miami where he is building another legacy. Meanwhile Barca? Two Europa League humiliations and reliance on teenagers to save them.
But do not mistake this for Messi’s ‘winning’ this breakup. Because football lost. The magic of one-club legends died the day Messi left. And no amount of Argentina, PSG, or Miami highlights will ever replace what should’ve been a lifetime of ‘Campeones’ chants in the streets of Catalonia. We miss you, Leo!
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