Now is the time for Leo Messi to explain himself

Now is the time for Leo Messi to explain himself

Lluís Mascaró

Director de Información Deportiva de Prensa Ibérica

Messi habría decidido dejar el Barça
Messi habría decidido dejar el Barça | VALENTÍ ENRICH

Leo Messi has to talk and can't delay his public appearance any more. He's obligated to explain why he wants to leave. Is it because of his poor relationship with Bartomeu? Does he not believe in the new sporting project? Does he consider his time at Barça to be over? Is he going because he wants to win another Champions League and Ballon d'Or? Does he just want to be reunited with Guardiola? Or is it simply because of the money? All of those reasons have been rumoured or leaked by interested parties. Strategic movements. But we haven't heard a single word from Messi.

15 days after the humiliating exit from the Champions League against Bayern, the Argentine star has kept a vow of silence but now it isn't recommended. He needs to protect his image. Until a few days ago, 99.99% of Barcelona supporters believed Messi was in the right in his battle with Bartomeu. Now the public opinion is started to vary. He sent a burofax and then failed to attend training, two actions no one expected from Messi in order to force a move away. Messi (and his legal team) has entered into a belligerent dynamic that we all understood in ‘mercenaries’ like Neymar... but that we did not believe possible from a culé like Leo who has been at the club for two decades.

For that reason it would be good, I'd say necessary, for Messi to explain his strategy. More than just his non-existent relationship with Bartomeu, the Argentine star owes the supporters his version of events. It isn't enough he lets his people speak for him, it's now Messi's time to show his face. Hold a press conference, even if it's a via a video call. The culés need to hear from the man who has been their idol over the last 15 years. Messi is the greatest player in Barça history's and should act like it, even in his departure. Don't let a bad ending sour this love story with Barça. The divorce is definitive but there's still time to ensure this marriage is remembered as being magnificent.

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