- Nasima Akter
Pep Guardiola Wants A Big Barcelona Send-Off For Messi
Pep Guardiola, the renowned football manager, has recently expressed his desire to give Lionel Messi, often regarded as the greatest of all time (GOAT), a befitting send-off at Barcelona. The iconic forward left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021 after the club was unable to extend his contract, leaving fans yearning for a proper farewell.
While rumors continue to circulate about Messi's potential return to Barcelona this summer, the financial constraints faced by the club make such a transfer challenging to accomplish. Nonetheless, Guardiola remains hopeful that Messi will make a comeback and envisions himself at Camp Nou, witnessing and participating in bidding farewell to the legendary player in the future.
As a passionate Barcelona supporter, Guardiola expressed his sentiments, stating, "I'm a Barcelona fan, I've got my tickets [at Camp Nou], and I just hope that one day we can say goodbye to him as he deserves. He's the greatest player of all time."
The manager acknowledged Messi's monumental impact on the club's success over the past 12 years, emphasizing not only his remarkable statistics but also his contributions to the team's style of play, beauty, and efficiency.
The manner in which Messi's tenure at Barcelona concluded surprised Guardiola, who firmly believes that the current club president, Joan Laporta, holds a deep affection for Messi. Laporta has openly stated that Messi deserves a farewell befitting his stature and importance to the club. Guardiola acknowledged the challenging financial circumstances that led to Messi's departure, recognizing that there were numerous factors contributing to the decision.
Guardiola eagerly awaits the day when he can rise from his seat, applaud, and bid farewell to Messi with the utmost respect and gratitude. He is confident that Laporta, along with Messi himself, will make every effort to ensure that the Argentine and his family receive the love and adoration from Barcelona fans that they rightfully deserve.
Despite Guardiola's hopes for Messi's return to Barcelona, it appears increasingly unlikely with each passing day. Barcelona initially seemed like the obvious destination upon Messi's departure from PSG, but the club's financial instability and La Liga's strict wage regulations have cast doubts on such a reunion. Recent reports suggest that a reunion with his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, in Saudi Arabia may be on the horizon, with Messi potentially earning twice as much as the Portuguese star if the move materializes.
In response to speculation regarding his son's future, Messi's father, Jorge Messi, took to social media to deny any agreements with Saudi Arabia. He clarified that a decision regarding Messi's next move would only be communicated at the end of the season, keeping fans and pundits eagerly awaiting an official announcement.
As Messi continues his training with PSG, despite an unsolicited trip to the Middle East, it remains uncertain whether he will be selected to play in PSG's upcoming Ligue 1 match against Ajaccio on Saturday. The football world eagerly awaits the unfolding of events and remains captivated by the ongoing saga surrounding Lionel Messi's future.
