MERCATO – FC Barcelona – Pedri, Griezmann, legacy and tip: How Barça managed the operation Lionel Messi

They know better than anyone what they owe each other. Without Lionel Messi, Barça would never have become the benchmark of the game in the 21st century. Without Barça, Messi would never have become one of his two best players. Both have nourished each other since 2004 and there was therefore no question of the story ending without a lap of honor, without a tribute, on a misunderstanding in the middle of an empty Camp Nou and sad as Barça without Messi. The Argentinian never wanted a fishtail ending and if the story was to end, it had to be done according to the rules of the art.

Only two men could have broken the pretty fairy tale. Pep Guardiola, former Pulga mentor who has never stopped giving him a foot since arriving at Manchester City. And Josep Bartomeu, former president of Barça and nemesis of Messi. Since the second was no longer in charge, and Manchester City no longer wanted to alienate Barça, the case seemed heard.

Messi is once again the treasure of Catalonia

Of course, Messi has already considered leaving his club forever. Last year, when nothing was going right, that Barça’s competitiveness was taking its toll, he wanted to leave. Titillated by his ambitions but above all scalded by a management which did everything to make him bear the hat of the poor results. But since Joan Laporta took power, everything has changed. Messi has become again what he should never have ceased to be: the treasure of Catalonia.

And Barça went out of their way to extend it. No more overwhelming it with all the evils but rather brushing it with the grain. Just last week, Ronald Koeman was ready to sacrifice Antoine Griezmann to keep Messi, a top priority while respecting the restrictions imposed by the La Liga control body.

A salary smoothed over 5 years, the trick of Barça

Messi will undoubtedly not come to the end of his contract and could leave Catalonia after the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the 2022/2023 season but will continue to receive emoluments for the title of Barça ambassador. A nice sleight of hand that allows Messi not to lower his salary and Barça to contain his payroll by smoothing the emoluments of the Argentine over five years instead of two.

All of this arguably wouldn’t have been possible if Messi hadn’t sensed some momentum at the club. A thrilling trajectory symbolized by victory in the Copa del Rey and the emergence of a new generation embodied by Pedri, best youngster of the Euro dazzling with Spain for three weeks. With him, the Argentine may finally be able to mourn the departures of Iniesta and Xavi.

With the rise of De Jong, the return from injury of Fati and the arrivals of Depay and Agüero, Messi no doubt felt that Barca could finally have the weapons to regain their place among the best European clubs. Bartomeu ousted, a salary maintained and ambitions regained: no, definitely, Messi had no reason not to extend.