A series of sporting directors -- Andoni Zubizarreta, Robert Fernandez, Pep Segura, Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes -- have come and gone over the past five years, all of them unable to implement an effective long-term strategy because they were never afforded the time to do so. While Messi certainly doesn’t bear much responsibility for his team’s collapse defensively, he’s definitely culpable for Barcelona failing to score in Liverpool’s stunning 4-0 victory in the second leg. "The president told me the only way to leave was to pay the €700m clause, which is impossible, and that the alternative was going to court," Messi said. Messi expressed his doubts and remained determined to leave the club. "Put aside everything else you've been working on and focus on this," Bartomeu told the club's lawyers. How much would they have to pay Barca? Rosario, Posizione: Messi and Ronaldo missing from 2019/2020 Uefa awards For the first time in a decade, the two players are not shortlisted for any of the Uefa awards. Four Champions League titles are more than enough for mortals. "Messi and Pep spoke for hours," a source told ESPN. The original date in Messi's contract had been drawn up to coincide with the end of the season. La sua prima partita è arrivata alla 5a giornata, nel 2-0 contro il Granada, ma per trovare la prima rete stagionale in campionato Leo ha dovuto attendere l'8° turno, nel 4-0 contro il Siviglia. A year ago, Lionel Messi set out his terms for staying at Barcelona. SETIEN HAD A BRIEF AND TROUBLED SPELL IN CHARGE. How do you prevent those mistakes from happening again and again? He has them on track for the same result this season in the wake of a stunning, late-game goal in a 1-0 victory over the Atletico Madrid. Secondo le cifre rese note dal quotidiano Der Spiegel, lo stipendio di Messi sarebbe di 60,3 milioni di euro di fisso più 10,7 milioni di diritti d’immagine. • Sources: Chelsea, PSG in Bakayoko talks. In the end, the date -- initially widely reported as May 31, later corrected to June 10 -- fell when La Liga was about to resume. Tutti i marchi Sky e i diritti di proprietà intellettuale in essi contenuti, sono di proprietà di Sky international AG e sono utilizzati su licenza. Throughout his career, Messi’s leadership has been occasionally called into question; Van Dijk’s, meanwhile, is the driving force behind his teams’ surprising level of success. Gerelyn Terzo edited this article for CCN.com. Per usare questa pagina è necessario attivare Javascript. City were reluctant to take that road, too. • Steffen wants more anti-racism action Messi's long-term doubts led his advisers to insert a release clause in his Barca contract when it was renewed in 2017. "The last chance for Dembele was clear-cut," Messi told reporters after the first leg. He admitted as much in the interview that brought a temporary end to the crisis this summer: "I've been telling [president Josep Maria Bartomeu] that I wanted to leave all year." In February, it was alleged that a company the club had hired to protect its image was behind social media accounts posting disparaging comments about current and former players. Messi knew that his options for leaving Barcelona were limited. Rosa: 1, Undici iniziali: 1, Entrato: 0, Panchina: 0, Squalificato: 0, Infortunato: 0. There are players who will perform a lot better without him in the team. The club failed to bring Neymar back last summer, signing Antoine Griezmann instead for a similar sum. Quanto guadagna Messi al Barcellona. Twelve months later, Messi was refusing to train, insisting that his 20-year relationship with Barca was over, and trying to force a move to Manchester City. Barcelona's members strike back against president Bartomeu: What's next for the club? "Four goals would have been better than three.". Would Lamar Odom Still Be Playing in the NBA if Tragedy Never Struck? Not one of the candidates has said they want to build a Barca without Messi, despite the fact he will be 34 next summer. It came at Camp Nou in May 2019. Lionel Messi is the 2019 #ballondor winner ☝️ pic.twitter.com/5nNZXl05vY, — France Football (@francefootball) December 2, 2019. It wouldn't be straightforward, he warned. Vidal received similar treatment. Argentina. The Nou Camp was rocking in celebration as fans watched their side wrap up the title race at home for the first time since 2010. "Bartomeu doesn't want to be the president who agrees to the sale of Messi," a source told ESPN, even as another source said, "it's the best thing he could have done.". In a conversation that lasted around a minute, the coach told Messi's best friend in the squad that he was not in Barca's plans and should look for a new club. It's understandable, even if it's hard to dispute the grain of truth at its heart: that Barca should do everything possible to keep their best-ever player happy. - Atletico Madrid confirm arrival of Luis Suarez from Barcelona He finished second in Ballon d’Or voting, beating out the likes of Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Kylian Mbappe. Among them, they brought in a mishmash of players recruited with different ideas in mind. Messi, who now boasts 10 domestic titles, was seemingly rested for the first half with perhaps one eye on Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first-leg against Liverpool. Lionel Messi won a sixth Ballon d’Or on Monday, but his case for the award given to football’s best player isn’t unimpeachable. And yet this was no spur-of-the-moment decision. Per provare a immaginare quanto potrebbe costare Messi alla Juventus è necessario prima capire quanto la Pulce guadagna oggi al Barcellona. Around the same time, he called Guardiola. Sources told ESPN that the feedback Messi received from legal experts was mixed. • Netherlands hire De Boer for national team Despite that, sources told ESPN at the time there were board members who supported letting Messi go. Bartomeu might have ruined his relationship with Messi -- the player called him a liar, claiming Bartomeu had assured him he would let him go -- but he got his wish. Unlike Barca, he viewed City as having a clear strategy and an upward trajectory. The Dutch defender’s individual numbers pale in comparison to those of Messi, but that’s more a byproduct of the players’ wildly disparate roles on the pitch than evidence of the latter’s superiority. Comments Trending News. While that’s an incredible achievement by itself for any defender, Van Dijk’s overall influence on his club and international sides, Liverpool and the Netherlands, was second to none. When he scooped his sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019, Messi acknowledged that "retirement is approaching" and he is 33 - so it is a possibility. Messi and his family were mentioned. A first meeting between Messi and Koeman -- one that saw Messi interrupt his holiday with Suarez and Jordi Alba in the Pyrenees to return to Barcelona on Aug. 20 -- did not go well. Bartomeu had one important thing as leverage: Messi could not stomach a legal battle. But apart from his team-wide triumphs in La Liga, Messi’s sides failed to live up to expectations over the past year. Latest on Barcelona forward Lionel Messi including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN As Barca drafted burofaxes of their own to correspond with their absent captain, sources told ESPN that some versions specified that there would be no punishment, while others left the option open. Messi has since said he didn't inform the club before then because they were still involved in La Liga and the Champions League; one source, though, says the fact City were banned from European football before winning an appeal also complicated his route out of Camp Nou. "I honestly don't like to do these things, but I think everyone should take responsibility for their decisions," he wrote on Instagram. After several days of crunching numbers, a source told ESPN that "if Barcelona let him leave for €100 or 150m, Messi will be a City player." In fact, City's rebuild under their new owners over the past decade has been carried out with the aim of attracting first Guardiola and, later, Messi. Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Levante. Predictably, it was Messi who made the breakthrough just after the hour mark after a sustained period of pressure. * All comments must be approved by staff before appearing on CCN.com. Please note: these shit cartoons are not made for kids in any way. Nel 2013 ne ha segnate "solo" 45... Messi si conferma anche l'attuale capocannoniere della Liga, davanti a tutti con 13 gol: un numero incredibile se consideriamo che la Pulce ha saltato la prima parte di stagione per infortunio. Wasting almost €300 million on Dembele and Philippe Coutinho -- both yet to come good, three years on -- less so. If you wish to delete your comment or data, please contact us. His closest competition comes in the form of teammate Luis Suarez, who sits second in the standings on 21. Several sources pinpoint one moment that best reveals Messi's disenchantment. He has them on track for the same result this season in the wake of a stunning, late-game goal in a 1-0 victory over the Atletico Madrid. "It's the moment to sell him, it's a historic opportunity to be able to change things. • Di Maria handed 4-game ban for brawl Famiglia, Attuale Nazionale: There was a more tantalising prospect, though: Messi might be available for nothing. The Argentinean striker was named football’s player of the year for a record sixth time, breaking a tie with longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the most such awards ever won by an individual. Real Madrid won 10 games in a row, while Barca dropped points in four of theirs. When you talk about players, you should give names. Signed by Messi, it was sent just after 7 p.m. By mid-morning on Aug. 25, the letter had arrived at Camp Nou. We have to be self-critical, starting with the players but across the whole club.". Messi has now won 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona. But with the campaign extended because of the coronavirus pandemic, Messi's camp felt they had some wiggle room when it came to the interpretation of the clause. • Italy in shock as referee, partner killed His €700m buyout clause was impossible, even for City. That is slowly happening, but it's coming at the expense of his closest friends at the club: Vidal has joined Inter Milan and Suarez is headed to Atletico Madrid. I don't have any intention of going anywhere but I want to keep competing and winning.". (1:01). Things had "all gone wrong" since January, he said, in a blatant criticism of his new coach. • Atletico, Barca seal Suarez deal Barca had been failing to do that on the pitch; they were failing off it, too. Barcelona haven't done that since 2015. Nonetheless, when it had passed, the club were quick to brief the media. "We've been a very erratic, weak, low-intensity team. But Barcelona's planning has been incoherent at best. Ernesto Valverde had promised not to rest key players for the fixture against relegation-threatened Levante, but there was one notable absentee from the starting lineup. In the end, he won't be the president who oversees Messi's departure; after all, the club's presidential elections will happen on March 20 or 21 next year, before Messi's contract expires. Chief Editor: Samburaj Das – [email protected]. Messi's mind was made up. Messi waited and maintained his silence, even skipping coronavirus testing ahead of a return for preseason training with new coach Koeman. Kendrick Perkins’ Twitter Feud with Kevin Durant Reeks of Media Hypocrisy, Lou Williams Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For ‘Capping’ About Kawhi Leonard And LeBron James, Kyle Rudolph Duped Into Giving Away His Game-Worn Gloves in Charity Scam, Chrissy Teigen’s Cries for Attention Are Becoming Obvious, Dow Soars as Trump’s Tax Returns Fail to Dent U.S. Stock Market, Nick Foles Over Mitchell Trubisky Is a No-Brainer for Chicago. Barca were in action on Sunday for the first time since losing 8 … Messi's allies were being pushed out and, in his view, disrespected. "I would never take Barca to court because it's the club I love.". The No. Six days later, he was proved right. In the 2018 Champions League quarterfinals, Barcelona took a 4-1 lead over Roma heading into the second leg, only to be eliminated by virtue of away goals after a 3-0 shutout. Setien was dismissed. Lionel Messi’s case as the greatest football player ever was further burnished on Monday when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or at the France Football awards ceremony in Paris. • Ryan Reynolds seeks Wrexham purchase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVVoC4C2ucM. Messi, Guardiola and Manchester City all share an obsession with the Champions League. If you see a breach of our Code of Ethics or find a factual, spelling, or grammar error, please contact us. 24/giu/1987 (33), Luogo di nascita: (CNN)Barcelona successfully defended its Spanish La Liga crown after beating Levante 1-0 Saturday, courtesy of the magical Lionel Messi. And for Messi, winning means the Champions League. It was €700m from a buying club, or he stays. On advice from Cuatrecasas, the player opted to use a burofax -- a registered letter, used when legal proof of receipt is required -- to inform Barcelona that he wished to leave for free, exercising his release clause. C – 502, Flushing Meadows, Ferns City Road, Doddanekundi, 560037, Bangalore, India. Scopri le migliori foto stock e immagini editoriali di attualità di Messi 2019 su Getty Images. But ESPN has been told that some players thought a fresh start, with a new coach and without Messi, might have been the best for everyone. The player told his former coach that he wanted to move. That balance endured until January this year when Valverde was sacked -- with Barca top of the league -- after defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia. From the beginning, Messi was not impressed with him despite hyped-up claims of a return to the more attacking, possession-based style of play made famous at the club by Johan Cruyff and, later, Pep Guardiola. "Messi has so much power at the club, both on a financial and sporting level," one source said. Barcelona successfully defended its Spanish La Liga crown after beating Levante 1-0 Saturday, courtesy of the magical Lionel Messi. He was determined to leave, but not if the process descended into lengthy litigation. But considering Messi continues to postpone the inevitable arrival of Father Time, don’t count on it. They haven't even come close. • Arsenal keen on Morgan test - Montemurro The win is Barcelona's 26th title, but they still trail Real Madrid's record tally of 33 domestic crowns. Julien Laurens cannot believe how late Barcelona have left it in the transfer window to do their business. I need to see that there's a winning team because I want to keep winning things at this club. Barca were 3-0 up in the first leg of their semifinal against Liverpool. Esordio in nazionale: 17/08/2005 a 18 anniUNGHERIA-ARGENTINA 1-2, Per il consumatore clicca qui per i Moduli, Condizioni contrattuali, Privacy & Cookies, informazioni sulle modifiche contrattuali o per trasparenza tariffaria, assistenza e contatti. That was enough and Messi decided to go ahead. There could be as many as 10 people in the running to replace Bartomeu, too -- Victor Font is one of the early favourites to inherit the role and he has said that, in addition to bringing former Barca midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez back as coach, he wants to make sure Messi stays. Once their two-year ban from European competitions was lifted on July 13, they knew they would be the front-runners to sign him if he left Barca. The win moved the Catalan club 9 points clear of Atletico Madrid in second place with three games left to play -- but a superior head-to-head record hands them an unassailable lead. Copyright 2020 Sky Italia - P.IVA 04619241005.Segnalazione Abusi, Moduli, Condizioni contrattuali, Privacy & Cookies. "But I don't want to have a long-term contract and to only be here because of it. New signings arrived, flopped and left. Scegli tra immagini premium su Messi 2019 della migliore qualità. The forward has been pivotal in his team's success this season and looks set to be named La Liga top scorer with 34 goals already to his name. There was never any direct contact between the clubs, nor did Messi's camp transmit directly to Barca a desire to move to City, but sources at the Catalan club say were informed of City's interest in signing Messi by a third party. Puoi scegliere tra il rendimento dell'intera carriera e quello di una particolare stagione. However, the Argentine star was introduced at the break with the scores level after a frustrating first half in which Barcelona failed to convert a host of chances. Barcelona face Liverpool in the Champions League and will look to win the Copa del Rey against Valencia on May 25. He was replaced by Quique Setien, a man with no experience managing a group of players at this level. ABOVE ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS both personal and professional, Messi's discontent stems from his desire to win. - Hunter: Suarez-Atletico union will be magnificent But just because Messi’s career accomplishments and remarkable level of play for a 32-year-old are both unmatched hardly means his Ballon d’Or victory is unimpeachable. Lionel Messi has dominated the headlines for Barcelona since their 2019-20 season finished, but he showed little sign of letting off-field matters impact his performances as he helped secure a 4-0 win over Villarreal. HQ: Drengsrudhagen 6, 1385, Asker, Norway. Today's game is a summary of the season. This is my home," he told the Catalan newspaper Sport. Messi deserves immense credit for his role in leading Barcelona to the 2019 La Liga title. "The truth is that for a while there hasn't been a project or anything," he said. Van Dijk was the best backline player in football last year, and it wasn’t especially close. AT MANCHESTER CITY, there had been a growing acceptance that signing Messi for free was impossible, so they turned their attention to a negotiated settlement. Others question whether the prospect of another year of an unhappy Messi is best for Barca. Messi had not been happy at Barcelona -- with the president, the board or management -- for a long time. And so, Barcelona's board nervously waited. Abidal touched a nerve. When Barca dropped their first points in a frustrating goalless draw with Sevilla, sources told ESPN that there was a tense dressing room showdown between captain and coach as stunned teammates looked on. Barcelona contacted two firms specialising in sports law -- Costa Torrecillas & Associates and Bufete Antras -- for advice. He was desperate to be heard. SO MESSI STAYS FOR NOW, but so do his doubts, expressed so clearly and concisely when he finally spoke out. Will the new president be able to convince him to renew his deal? by Nokwanda Ncwane. Valverde can now focus on the remaining cup competitions as he looks to guide his team to three major honors this season. Legendary midfielder Andres Iniesta departed. If not, you're tarnishing all of us and feeding things which people say and aren't true. Not for free, mind you, but if it meant bringing in a large fee and removing his €90m salary from the wage bill, the club might be able to dig itself out of a €300m financial hole during the COVID-19 crisis. Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only), ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more, Netherlands hire De Boer for national team, Italy in shock as referee, partner killed. - ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more. The top-of-the-table lead that Setien had inherited from Valverde quickly disappeared. That Messi, one-club man, captain and icon, would seek to leave Barcelona like this -- notifying them in a now-infamous burofax that, as far as he was concerned, he had already gone -- should have been unthinkable. Speaking immediately afterward, Messi didn't hold back. Valverde: "Messi doveva riposare e niente di più. Julien Laurens says there's simply no money to fund transfers at Barcelona if they don't sell first. We do not allow bad language, hate speech, nor verbal attacks on staff or other commentators. ", Those voices believed a managed departure could be beneficial, but the president would not entertain the prospect. As far as they were concerned, Messi would be staying until 2021. Messi spaziale: raggiunge quota 50 gol anche nel 2019, ci è riuscito 9 volte Con il gol realizzato oggi contro l'Alaves, Leo mette a segno per la 9a volta in carriera 50 o più gol in un anno solare. Manager Ernesto Valverde, despite his unpopularity among some Barca fans, won the league ahead of Real Madrid in 2018 and 2019. On the morning of Sept. 2, Messi's father and agent, Jorge, flew from Rosario, Argentina, to Barcelona for a meeting with Bartomeu that evening, but no progress was made. They have all been made scapegoats by Bartomeu, sacrificed as symbols of the club's shortcomings. Some comments may be edited for clarification or if they are in breach of our comment policy. BARCELONA HAD WON NOTHING IN 2019-20, their first trophyless campaign in 12 years. The fallout from Valverde's firing was damaging, too. All of that depended on Barca being willing to budge. Why Lionel Messi is the world's best player, Anthony Borges: Parkland hero's trip to Barça. Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets got older. AUG. 24 BEGAN WITH A PHONE CALL from Koeman to Suarez. We should have seen it coming. City have never won it; Guardiola and Messi are thought not to have won it often enough. This is the type of galloping one-two sequence the football world has come to expect from Messi over the last decade-plus but is still mostly reserved for a player of his creativity, skill, and foresight alone. Lionel Messi, our 2019 chart-topper, is to other footballers like ‘Batman to an average cop’, according to one of the many opponents he tormented even in a relatively lean year Later that day, Messi took action. It was another blow to his already fragile relationship with Bartomeu, even if Barca continue to deny any wrongdoing in the scandal that's come to be known as "Barcagate.". Messi has said the club must sign young players to freshen up an aging squad. Sources told ESPN that the easygoing, diplomatic Valverde maintained relative harmony in a dressing room divided between two cliques: one, led by Messi, Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal, who were essentially happy under the coach's laid-back regime; and another, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong, who would have preferred a more disciplined approach. With his deal officially expiring in June, he is able to negotiate with other clubs starting in January. Hurt, 560037, USA. City were also willing to include players of interest to Barca, such as young defender and La Masia product Eric Garcia, in a deal, although ESPN was told that others, including Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez, would not be included. Argentina underachieved at all stages of the Copa America, going 1-1-1 in group play while scoring as many goals as it allowed. What about financial fair play? © 2020 Copyright: Hawkfish AS. Why Carmelo Anthony’s Player of the Week Award Is a Farce, Forget Lonzo, LaMelo Ball Is Starting to Look More Like Luka Doncic, Road Warrior Animal Death Shines Spotlight on WWE Employment Practices, Dak Prescott Should Test Free Agency Before Committing to Cowboys, Deshaun Watson Needs the Houston Texans to Sign Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski Is Hurting His Brand with Uninspiring Comeback. Messi waited, despairingly, for things to get better. Beyond all that, though, it depends on one thing: on Barcelona having a winning team. The 31-year-old demonstrated his trademark quick feet to control the ball before sending it on its way to the bottom corner. The mechanism by which they thought they could pull off a deal had existed for years. Messi has leverage. Messi is intensely aware of the impact Barca's European failings will have on his legacy. Julien Laurens reacts to Barcelona seemingly beating Bayern Munich to Sergino Dest's signature. In an interview with Goal's Ruben Uria, Messi announced his decision to stay. Maybe next year. La Pulce argentina, con il gol realizzato all'Alaves - un sinistro dei suoi dal limite dell'area - raggiunge quota 50 reti nell'anno solare, un'impresa che gli è riuscita 9 volte nelle ultime 10 annate. He might not even make it until then if a vote of no confidence, launched on the back of Messi's burofax, goes against him in the coming weeks. Julien Laurens gives the latest on Ronald Koeman and Barcelona's pursuit of Lyon's Memphis Depay. Messi ha segnato le sue 13 reti in 11 partite disputate, distanziando Karim Benzema (12) e tenendosi a +3 sul suo compagno di squadra Suarez, con cui condivide anche la leadership negli assist (6 a testa). It came at Camp Nou in May 2019. No legal battle, no drama, at least of the sort we've witnessed this past summer. Their title challenge ended with a 2-1 home defeat to Osasuna on July 16. Bartomeu will be gone soon and a new president is to be elected in March. Could they afford Messi's salary? Griezmann is a player who has failed to adapt for various reasons, including the fact his preferred position is taken by Messi. Everything changed on Sept. 4. In the 96th minute, Messi -- who had scored twice -- … "They've been juggling things and plugging holes.". Known for being a reluctant public figure, Messi speaks only when he has something to say -- and at 33, he has been more vocal than ever. It gave City a lot to think about. Messi liked Valverde. An uneasy, six-month truce lasted until June, when La Liga returned after its pandemic-enforced break. Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines. "For me, money or a clause don't mean anything. Anche l'anno scorso non c'era contro l'Inter...", Roland Garros | Primo turno | Commento italiano, Il Barcellona cala il poker: 4-1 all'Alavés e 39 punti; Real Madrid avvisato, Valverde nuova stella, Bale ha ancora tanto da dire: le 5 verità di Barcellona-Real Madrid, Barcellona show: segna Messi, Ansu Fati fa doppietta, © Eurosport, una società Discovery 2020 – Tutti i diritti riservati, Dichiarazione sulle nuove forme di sfruttamento. Guardiola said he would talk to decision-makers at City. EVEN AS BARCELONA FAILED IN EUROPE, they at least continued to win La Liga. Editors' note: This story contains reporting from Moises Llorens, Sam Marsden, Alex Kirkland, Rodrigo Faez and Eduardo Fernandez-Abascal. The Argentine came off the bench at halftime to send his side on its way to a pivotal 3 points, much to the delight of the home support. It's the fourth title Barcelona has won in the past five years and it kept alive hopes of a prestigious treble this season. Spaziale, infinito, "mostro", chiamatelo come volete, ma Lionel Messi fa segnare un 2019 da record, l'ennesimo di una carriera che non sembra voler finire mai. This is the story -- told with the help of numerous first-hand accounts from sources close to both player and club -- of how Messi's nagging doubts about Barcelona eventually became impossible to ignore, and what happened next. One approach might involve a clear-eyed vision of the kind of team you want to construct. But not for Messi. For them, there was no debate: The clause had already expired. "The sporting department should take responsibility. Sporting director Abidal said in an interview with Sport in February that "a lot of players weren't happy [with Valverde] and weren't working a lot. Another, close to the dressing room, went further. ", - Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) Here’s why. (The former had won the club a favourable judgment months earlier in their dispute with Neymar over a renewal bonus.)