La Liga president warns Messi of the consequences for Barca exit

La Liga president Javier Tebas warned Lionel Messi to think ‘very carefully’ about leaving Barcelona, as it would surely damage his reputation.

After becoming disillusioned with life in Barcelona on the back of a nightmare 2019/20 campaign, Messi sought to leave the club in the summer.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner handed in a transfer request and hoped a clause in his contract would make it void. Therefore, he could leave Camp Nou as a free agent. But Josep Maria Bartomeu had other ideas and shut the prospect of an exit off altogether.

Messi now intends to honor the last season left on his Barca contract and is free to begin talks over pre-contract terms with foreign clubs for next summer from January onwards.

But Tebas thinks the Argentine should resist the tempting offers that will probably come his way in favor of protecting his legacy at Barcelona.

“We’ve been lucky to enjoy him for so many years but Messi should think very carefully about what he does next,” the Spanish league’s president told AFP.

“If Messi left Barcelona, that reputation he has now and that has worked so well for him would be very damaged.

“It’s true he could get a better offer financially but the reputation he has after more than 20 years, I think he has to hold onto that.”

On the consequences of Messi leaving to La Liga, Tebas added: “It wouldn’t be a drama. Cristiano Ronaldo left, Neymar left.

“Neymar went to PSG and I haven’t seen the French league reaching a super level because of him.

“That’s the reality. People who think the players are the ones who define a competition are wrong and I’m glad they think that way because they won’t grow.”