{"id":30415,"date":"2020-08-27T15:46:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T10:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/?p=30415"},"modified":"2020-08-27T15:46:00","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T10:16:00","slug":"lionel-messi-leaving-barcelona-bad-for-la-liga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/lionel-messi-leaving-barcelona-bad-for-la-liga\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona bad for La Liga?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For over the last decade, Lionel Messi has been the one, indisputable source of stability at FC Barcelona. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Yes, there have been a few contractual changes along the way, but every Barcelona fan knew in their heart that their captain won\u2019t be leaving, that he\u2019d retire happily at his boyhood club.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>On Tuesday, the perfect dream shattered to a million pieces. The security evaporated in a heartbeat. <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/category\/football\/football-players\/lionel-messi\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Lionel Messi<\/a> \u2014 as confirmed by almost all top media outlet \u2014 sent <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/barcelonas-implosion-signifies-end-of-an-era\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Barcelona<\/a> the official letter of intent, stating clearly that he wanted to leave Camp Nou, and for free. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Reportedly, Barcelona, too, sent back an official reply, insisting that Messi didn\u2019t have grounds to leave and would only be released when his \u20ac700m buyout clause is triggered.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Barca fans returned to the Camp Nou today to ask Messi to stay. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zQEFAD846U\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/zQEFAD846U<\/a><\/p>&mdash; B\/R Football (@brfootball) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/brfootball\/status\/1298687923878088705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 26, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">What does the future hold for Lionel Messi, Barcelona and La Liga?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Barcelona and Lionel Messi haven\u2019t yet made the open secret public, but an official announcement seems imminent at the time. The relation between the club and their captain has finally hit rock bottom and co-existence seems to be a distant dream.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Amid all the chaos, uncertainty, and potential court hearings, another aspect is gradually coming to the fore \u2014 the bigger picture, if you will. If Messi actually ends up leaving the Blaugrana, <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/category\/football\/football-competitions\/la-liga\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">La Liga<\/a> would officially be without any multiple Ballon d\u2019Or winners, just like most of the other leagues on the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>When his arch-nemesis, <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/category\/football\/football-players\/cristiano-ronaldo\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a>, left <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/category\/football\/football-teams\/real-madrid\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Real Madrid<\/a> in the summer of 2018, many dubbed it as the end of an era \u2014 the conclusion to the great Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi saga. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Without the two greatest footballers of this era butting heads, Spain\u2019s famous <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/El_Cl%C3%A1sico\" class=\"rank-math-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">El Clasico<\/a> lost some of its usual charisma. It didn\u2019t become drab, of course, but seeing the two generational talents was always a privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Cristiano Ronaldo won a third straight UCL title in his last game for Real Madrid.<br><br>Lionel Messi\u2019s last game for Barcelona could be an 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ngXnI1XihS\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/ngXnI1XihS<\/a><\/p>&mdash; ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNFC\/status\/1298621234339614721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 26, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>After Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s departure, Lionel Messi tried to keep the magic alive with his scintillation goalscoring and mesmerising passing pedigree. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>He won the Pichichi and also emerged as the most creative force in the division. In La Liga, he\u2019s often been the only driving force for Barcelona, saving them time and again from embarrassing scorelines.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The league, of course, has also benefitted greatly from his grandeur. They have always had the privilege of focussing on one of the greatest players in history, reminding the fans why they tuned in to La Liga every single week. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>For the broadcasters, Lionel Messi has been nothing but an all-powerful golden ticket \u2014 a get-out-of-jail-free card that ends broadcasting slumps in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Angry Barcelona Fans Enter Camp Nou, Demand Club President Bartomeu\u2019s Resignation<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LionelMessi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#LionelMessi<\/a> I <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Bartomeu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Bartomeu<\/a> I <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Barcelona?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Barcelona<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qkfsboqOhC\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/t.co\/qkfsboqOhC<\/a><\/p>&mdash; LatestLY (@latestly) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/latestly\/status\/1298845846117609472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 27, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>For the last half a decade, Messi has been subjected to criticism in Europe, for not stepping up to the plate when the chips were down. He\u2019s always replied with humility, assuring that the next year would be better. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>This year, against Bayern Munich, Barcelona endured their worst ever single-leg defeat in the competition, conceded 8 goals in the Champions League for the first time. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lionel Messi was nothing but a silent spectator on the night, and his team-mates, too, didn\u2019t do anything to empower him. He probably had made up his mind after the final whistle.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/what-went-wrong-for-quique-setien-at-barcelona\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">After Quique Setien\u2019s dismissal<\/a> and Ronald Koeman\u2019s subsequent appointment, Messi finally pulled the trigger. He sent in a burofax, asked Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, to let him activate his release clause. What happened next is anybody\u2019s guess at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Manchester City plan to offer Lionel Messi a long-term contract that would see him move to partner club NYCFC after three years in the Premier League, report <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/moillorens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@moillorens<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RodrigoFaez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@RodrigoFaez<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CLoUOevHpF\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/CLoUOevHpF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; B\/R Football (@brfootball) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/brfootball\/status\/1298614113216671745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">August 26, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Irrespective of how it plays out, Barcelona and Messi can\u2019t possibly come out of this altercation unscathed. Both are likely to find it difficult to adjust to the new arrangements, new dynamics. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>However, neither Barcelona nor Messi would be the worst hit if the deal goes through. The biggest loser, in this scenario, would definitely be La Liga \u2014 losing his most marketable player to another club. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>With Lionel Messi gone, the viewership \u2014 both neutrals and fans \u2014 would take a major hit. El Clasico\u2019s, too, won\u2019t have the undetermined \u201cMessi factor\u201d in them. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And finally, La Liga won\u2019t be able to call itself the home to the generation\u2019s most successful footballer \u2014 Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/can-ronald-koeman-turn-around-barcaelona\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Ronald Koeman: Can Barcelona alumnus turn around the club\u2019s fortunes?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For over the last decade, Lionel Messi has been the one, indisputable source of stability at FC Barcelona. Yes, there have been a few contractual changes along the way, but every Barcelona fan knew in their heart that their captain won\u2019t be leaving, that he\u2019d retire happily at his boyhood club. On Tuesday, the perfect [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":30416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5452,5441,16,5454,5455,5470,34],"tags":[4654,887,4635,857,3524],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30415"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30415"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30415\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyrosports.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}