Lionel Messi’s situation at Barcelona is becoming increasingly murky.The 33-year-old wants to leave the club and failed to attend Monday’s training session as he seeks a way out.It has been reported that Messi no longer considers himself to be a part of Ronald Koeman’s squad, having become disillusioned with Barcelona’s problems on and off the pitch.In a report on Monday, Marca listed 10 reasons why the six-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to leave the Catalan outfit.Among them were concerns that Barcelona can’t match Messi’s ambitions and the feeling that he isn’t being listened to.
How this will end, nobody knows. ESPN have reported that Messi might have to miss the entire 2020/21 season to leave on a free, while Guillem Balague even suggested Barcelona’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu could go to prison if he sells the forward.Barcelona’s stance has always been that if Messi is to leave in this transfer window, a club will have to pay his €700 million release clause.They simply aren’t going to grant Messi his wish of leaving for free.
So, what do the rest of the Barcelona squad think about the ongoing saga?Most have remained quiet in public, which is hardly surprising given the scale of the situation.We did see a reaction from Luis Suarez on Twitter after former Barcelona centre-back Carles Puyol tweeted his support for Messi.Suarez responded with two clapping emojis after Puyol wrote: “Respect and admiration, Leo. All my support, friend.”
Only two players have spoken out
It turns out the Uruguayan forward is only of only two players to speak out on Messi’s desire to leave.
The other is Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal. There has been a “deafening silence” from the rest of the squad, according to Sky Sports.
They mention the silence from even those in Messi’s inner circle, which includes Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets.
Vidal recently discussed Messi’s situation on Daniel Habif’s YouTube channel.
“[He] is the best in the world, an extraterrestrial, but he needs help so that better results can be achieved,” Vidal said, per the Independent.
What’s interesting is that Messi, Suarez and Vidal’s futures at Barcelona all remain unclear.