So far, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner remains tied to the Blaugrana. However, negotiations for a contract extension have been postponed, and serious questions are being raised about Messi’s ongoing presence in Catalonia as he enters the last 12 months of his current deadline.
Barcelona’s current board has failed to adress the issues
Leo Messi would have already left Barcelona had his contract expired this summer, says Barca’s presidential candidate Agusti Benedito, with Josep Maria Bartomeu’s reign, criticized for edging the captain towards the departures. So far, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner remains tied to the Blaugrana. However, negotiations for a contract extension have been postponed. And serious questions are being raised about Messi’s ongoing presence in Catalonia. As he enters the last 12 months of his current deadline. A fresh start elsewhere is being discussed for the compassionate Argentine, with the likes of Inter, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, saying they are closely monitoring his position. Benedito fears Messi may have become disillusioned with life during Barça’s challenging era. And the club’s current board has failed to address the issues that led to the modest end of the 2019-20 campaign.
Xavi was the most important player in Barca’s history after Messi
“Unfortunately, I think Bartomeu will finally get Messi’s departure from Barcelona,” Benedito, told reporters. “It will be the last mistake on a long record and the most tragic of the Bartomeu-Rosell time, which has been a nightmare for our club’s history”. If Messi had left the contract this summer, I’m sure he would have left. Since Neymar left, Messi was not so happy”. Barça will be holding another round of elections in March 2021. Qhile they are currently looking for troubleshooting on the field that did not deliver significant silverware in 2020. As part of this process, Ronald Koeman has been returned to his familiar surroundings. So the Dutchman has signed a two-year contract as the club’s new head coach. Still, the expectation is that to be handed over to another former favorite in the form of Xavi.
Agusti believes that will be the case, saying: “Look, I think he was the most important player in Barça’s history after Messi. I admire him a lot. He spent five years in Qatar, and I honestly think before he will take charge. He must do what other legends have done: Luis Enrique and Pep Guardiola. That is, coach Team B or join the Koeman staff”. Benedito added on Koeman, “If I won the election in 2015, he would be our manager. I went to see him in London when he was at Southampton and signed the preliminary agreement. If I win this time, Koeman will still coach Barcelona. He is a legend of the club and an experienced coach with a lot of character. He has the advantage of being Cruyff’s apprentice and could open up a glorious era at Barça, as Johan did in the 90s.”