FC Barcelona – La Liga Argentine in the spotlight
LaLiga
Barcelona are in free fall, at least in LaLiga Santander where they are a massive 12 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid after 10 matches, having collected just 14 so far this season.
Some of the statistics during the season haven’t been seen since the 1980s, and is often the case… When things don’t go well, all eyes are fixed on the Camp Nou’s superstar.
Lionel Messi is the focus at Barcelona. Many blame him for the problems in the team and indeed at the club in general, and while it is clear the Argentine isn’t having his best campaign, the jump in logic is rather far.
Barcelona fans should be asking themselves whether they want to inspire Messi, and excite him, to try and reverse his decision to leave the club, or at very least give him reasons to stay. Instead of pulling in the same direction, it seems many within the club are going their own way, serving their own interests.
This week it was Carles Tusquets who sent ripples through the club with some inopportune words, as he insisted it would have been good to sell Messi for economic reasons. Regardless of whether or not he is right, which is debatable, there was no need to poke the wound.
Tusquets‘ role as acting president is to call elections and that is about it. Giving interviews and getting into such contentious issues are not in his remit, especially given the delicate situation. Messi is still thinking about leaving Barcelona.
The match against Cadiz will not have helped Messi much either. It was a step back on a sporting level, and one of the most powerful arguments for Messi staying is to have a team competing for titles.
LaLiga Santander looks lost despite plenty of games to play. The worst thing is that there isn’t the feeling that the team can make a miraculous recovery.
And now, the only thing missing is Messi being held responsible for the ills of the Barcelona team, when other factors are much more culpable. It has been argued that with Josep Maria Bartomeu gone, Messi should change his mind. However, Bartomeu’s legacy remains, particularly in the central defensive area.
The chaotic economic situation means signings will be almost impossible, and no one can be brought in before sales are made. Alongside a presidential election in which all nine candidates will not stop talking about Messi, the player isn’t exactly being persuaded to stay.
If they really want the Barcelona captain to remain at the Camp Nou, it is time to excite the footballer, to inspire him, and not to disappoint him. Right now, the chances of Messi staying, with all the events going on at the club, are minimal.
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