Nearly two decades have passed since Lionel Messi debuted with Barcelona and the expectation was he would retire wearing the same shirt color. However, as the Argentine started clashing with Barca officials it seemed possible that Messi will play the last years of his career outside of La Liga.
The marquee player leaving Spain seemed impossible in the past. Such a scenario was deemed unthinkable by La Liga with the league chief, Javier Tebas, declaring last year that the Barca superstar "is an essential element" of the domestic Spanish league.
"He is the heritage of La Liga," the chief executive said then, according to Goal.
Yet a year after, it appeared that Tebas is singing a different tune. As stories come out that Messi could walk away from Camp Nou for free as early as this summer, the league official stressed that La Liga will continue as if the player widely considered as among the greatest of all time did not leave.
"I would like Messi to stay here, but if he leaves it would not be a drama," Tebas was reported as saying,
He pointed to the surprise transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018, and La Liga largely stayed the same.
Tebas also touched on the speculations that Messi could join up with Inter Milan in Italy, and according to him: "I do not think that the arrival of Messi can solve the problems of Serie A."
"Serie A's figures are stressed, and these economic problems certainly are not solved by Leo Messi," the executive further explained.
If indeed Messi has plans to make a drastic change in the next few months, rivals clubs in Europe will only be too happy to welcome him with open arms. The Sun said Inter should be a serious candidate as the Italian giants once attempted to make the Argentine play at San Siro.
However, the more possible destinations for Messi after his life at Catalan would be Juventus and Manchester City. As the report noted, the Barca captain has been heavily linked with the two clubs because of Pep Guardiola, who was once in charge at Camp Nou.
Should Messi decide to pack up and leave, he could head to the Premier League and reunite with the Catalan boss. While Guardiola had indicated that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner will retire as a Barcelona star, the City coach will certainly open up space for Messi at the Etihad if the latter insists.
Juventus is an option too but that is if the rumors of Guardiola's exit from City and taking up a new job in Turin will prove correct. The Little Magician teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Old Lady is something to dream about but it remains a remote possibility for now.
