After 16 years of ruling La Liga, Lionel Messi is separating with FC Barcelona. Messi wants to play for Manchester City. Treat the departure of Barcelona as something that hurts the soul, but the end of a cycle, says Marcelo Bechler.
On Tuesday, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner declared his plan to part ways with the club. Multiple sources — and later the club itself — confirmed the news.
The shocking announcement came after weeks of talk that he could depart for another team. Messi had told Barcelona’s new coach he was more likely to leave than stay and didn’t “clearly” see his future with Barça.
Manchester City was reportedly interested in taking the 33-year-old but is still considering whether or not they can afford the huge investment involved in bringing him into their coop. Paris Saint-Germain may bring Messi on to pair him with international superstars Neymar and Paul Pogba.
While with Barcelona, where he’s played his entire professional career, Messi led the club to four UEFA Champions League titles, six Copas del Rey, and 10 La Liga titles. We’ll surely miss him in the classic Barca Jersey.
