Could Lionel Messi be about to perform a U-turn on his future? It’s one that many Barcelona fans crave for, and one that Carles Puyol believes can happen.
Messi left the entire football world speechless upon handing in a transfer request last summer. The fairytale ending many had envisaged for his Barcelona career was thrown into jeopardy, as the star sought a shock exit.
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, however, shut the door on a possible exit. It left Messi with only two choices left in either seeing out the rest of his contract or taking legal action against the club. He ultimately settled on the former and has since started all of Barca’s games for the new season.
Messi leaving Barca was bad for everyone, says La Liga president Tebas:
"I'm not sure whether departing from Barca would have been a good idea for Messi.
"Maybe yes as a player, but not for Messi as a football industry, because he is a machine in creating industry around him." pic.twitter.com/3sYIHVgiQq
— Goal (@goal) October 12, 2020
While talk of a reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City still persists, though, Puyol suggests his old teammate could stay ‘for many years’ yet.
“Like any fan, I did not want Messi to leave, but this is football,” said the former Barcelona skipper as quoted on Goal.
“In the end, he decided to stay. He recently said that he is motivated, that he wants to win and we hope he can continue with us for many years.
“He is a huge asset for La Liga, he is one of the best in the world.”
Messi has managed one goal and two assists in three appearances for Barcelona in La Liga this season.
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