As hypothesis across the six-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to swirl, a former worldwide colleague has urged him to stay at Camp Nou
Lionel Messi ought to comply with his coronary heart and stick with Barcelona this summer season in a bid to revive the Blaugrana to their former glories, in accordance with his former Argentina team-mate Franco Di Santo.
Hypothesis round Messi’s future continues to swirl, with the mercurial No.10’s contract set to run out on the finish of June following his public falling-out with the club’s hierarchy in the summer of 2020.
That implies that Saturday’s assembly with Actual Madrid at Estadio Alfredo di Stefano can be his last-ever Clasico if he does select to depart Camp Nou behind.
Goal understands that the 33-year-old is completely ignoring the situation around his future until the end of the season as Manchester Metropolis, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter proceed to be linked together with his signature.
And former Chelsea striker Di Santo believes that whereas it will be attention-grabbing to see the six-time Ballon d’Or winner in a brand new setting, he would relatively he remained in Catalunya.
What was mentioned?
Talking completely to Purpose, Di Santo says: “He deserves respect at Barcelona for all he has gained within the membership. It’s a workforce recreation however a giant a part of their latest historical past has been about him.
“I don’t suppose they might have gained as a lot with out him. He’s the important thing for the whole lot at Barcelona. And the model of play. He deserves to be revered for what he has gained within the final years.
“It could be nice for whoever indicators him within the Premier League or Italy. To see him in one other context can be cool.
“Nonetheless, I want to see him keep in Barcelona to construct his legacy.
“If I had been him, I might ignore no matter folks say and do what my coronary heart says. I might do what’s finest for my household and me. Perhaps that’s to make Barcelona robust once more.”
Is Messi nonetheless the world’s finest participant?
Regardless of a poor begin to the season and the emergence of latest stars corresponding to Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, Messi’s latest kind suggests he isn’t prepared to surrender his crown because the world’s finest participant with out a struggle.
With 16 targets and 7 assists in 13 league video games because the flip of the yr, Messi has led Barca back into the Spanish title race, with Ronald Koeman’s aspect now only a level behind faltering leaders Atletico Madrid with 9 matches nonetheless to play.
The Blaugrana have additionally reached the Copa del Rey closing, which is scheduled for April 17 in opposition to Athletic Membership.
As such, a home double is inside Messi’s attain, and Di Santo believes that his latest kind suggests he stays on the very prime of the world recreation.
“Even simply assembly Messi is wonderful as a result of he’s our (Argentina’s) different idol together with (Diego) Maradona,” Di Santo provides. “I feel with him they’re the 2 finest gamers in our historical past.
“We now have produced so many good gamers however these two are the most effective that we’ve had.
“I feel Messi is among the finest gamers, if not the most effective, proper now. We’re all the time pleased to have him in our workforce. It will likely be actually tough to see one other participant like him sooner or later.”
