Seven months after escape attempt, Messi's smiling at Barça again
Lionel Messi's smile is the best news for Barcelona. The Argentine is happy again on a football pitch. Thanks, especially, to Ronald Koeman. The Dutch coach has built a project for the present and (above all) for the future that has reinvigorated the best player of all time. Seven months after the famous burofax when Messi asked Josep Maria Bartomeu to let him leave, his situation has turned 180 degress.
There's been a radical metamorphosis taking place alongside the miracle transformation of the team. From the 2-8 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on August 14 to the 1-6 win at Real Sociedad on March 21. The European KO was the straw that broke the camel's back for Messi's patience and when he announced his desire to leave. The festival in Anoeta could prove a point of inflection that pushes Messi toward renewing his contract. At least that's what all Barça supporters hope.
There are 100 days left before Messi's deal expires with Barça. One hundred days for new president Joan Laporta will have to use all his powers of persuasion to convince Messi to stay at Camp Nou. Koeman has done a large part of his work for him. Perhaps even the toughest part: Messi is celebrating his goals and his teammates' efforts like trophies. That's to say, Messi has regained that leadership that makes him essential.
Messi's smile has reappeared at the same time as his best form and the team are on a great run in La Liga (37 points from 39). Everything is flowing. Not like the end of the Bartomeu era. Now all that's lacking is for Messi's interests to coincide with Laporta's offer, which needs to be as realistic (speaking financially) as it is imaginative. And, of course, emotionally unrejectable.
