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Just because you’re the greatest to ever do it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a fairytale ending. Just look at Michael Jordan on the Washington Wizards or Tom Brady on the Tampa Bay Bucs: eventually, the magic runs out. Sure, the player themselves may still be great, but not to the extent where they supersede the organization itself. That, unfortunately, is what appears to be happening with Argentinian and Barcelona leged Lionel Messi.
Messi, who turned 33 back in June, is reportedly reconsidering his future, as reports indicate the footballing icon wants out of Barcelona following their latest Champions League disaster (Barca were demolished by Bayern Munich 8-2 on Friday, thus marking the third-straight-year of European embarrassment for the Catalonians). That said, Barcelona’s shortcomings this season weren’t only on the European front, as the club went without a trophy in all competitions from the first time in over ten years. Now, as a result, Messi is questioning the clubs’ plans.
Lionel Messi wants out at FC Barcelona following their 8-2 quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, according to journalist Marcelo Bechler. The 33-year-old Argentine superstar’s contract is set to expire next summer, but Bechler says, citing club sources, that Messi wants to leave now.
That will put clubs with the biggest financial resources — such as Manchester City, PSG and Juventus — on high alert.
Messi hasn’t spoken publicly after the loss to Bayern Munich, but such a decision wouldn’t be all that shocking. However, we’ve seen Messi say he would retire from the Argentine national team on two occasions before coming back. His future at Barcelona has been up in the air for a while now, and contract talks stalled in July. [via CBS Sports]
AS CBS Sports points out, there are only a handful of football clubs across the globe that could even consider bringing in Messi due to financials. Despite being 33-years-old, a transfer for a player of Messi’s legendary caliber would surely still break the bank.