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So the transfer window is now behind us but we're still a little hungover from all the drama that unfolded this summer. Despite several high-profile transfers worked out to the satisfaction of all parties involved, the biggest transfer saga of the summer, involving Messi and Barcelona, was one that did not pan out that way.
Lionel Messi cooked up a storm when he faxed and intimated the Barcelona board of his intention to leave the club. Messi had already been pretty vocal about his discontentment with how the Barcelona top brass had been handling things. However, Barcelona were helped by a clause in Messi's contract that would only let him leave the club next summer.
Now, with reports of a second wage cut doing the rounds and Manchester City flexing their financial muscle and announcing that they can afford Messi, the rumours are back. But maybe it won't be a bad thing for Barcelona.
Let's take a look at five reasons why Barcelona should sell Lionel Messi.
#5 Selling Messi will help reduce their wage bill
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time and that's just not debatable anymore. That he is a cut above the rest is something he has proved time and again. As such, Messi obviously earns a whole lot more than the rest of his teammates.
Messi does not want to compromise in terms of money and he currently earns around £1 million a week. Barcelona are in their worst financial state in a long time and there has been no real improvement on the pitch to show for it. All their big money signings from recent years haven't really worked out.
There are several high-earners at the club and Lionel Messi is the biggest one. Also, Barcelona are reportedly planning another wage cut owing to the Covid pandemic and therefore it is clear that they are in a state of bother, financially speaking.
As such, letting Lionel Messi would be a huge relief as he earns about four million in a month in just wages. That's a lot of money to be saved.
#4 The need for Barcelona to focus on building a team
For far too long now, Barcelona have been heavily reliant on Lionel Messi. Over the past ten years or so, the focus has been on building the team around Messi. As a result, when Lionel Messi doesn't perform, it becomes nearly impossible for Barcelona to eke out results.
This has taken much away from the focus that should have been directed towards other players and youngsters. A player's worth was measured on how well he could play around Messi. A team such as Barcelona should not be reduced to that. That is why they have suffered lately.
There has been too much focus on Messi up until now. They need to gather their bearings and turn their attention towards building a new side. They have no shortage of talent and it is time to move on to the next generation of players.
Also read: Premier League Power Rankings: October 2020
#3 End star culture at Barcelona and reduce player power
For a very long time now, Barcelona have had stars who could hold the club ransom when it comes to business. Neymar's much talked about move to Paris Saint-Germain to break out of Leo Messi's shadow definitely exhibited elements of the star culture that's prevalent at Barcelona.
In such environments, players put themselves before the club and this is quite evident from the way Lionel Messi has been going vocal about his annoyance with the club and how they've been handling things. That Barcelona is being poorly run is now known to everybody because someone as big as Lionel Messi has openly spoken about it.
While in the short-term such reactionary steps taken by players might help force changes, in the long-run, it hampers a club's legacy. Barcelona need to show that the club is bigger than the players and selling Lionel Messi would be a positive step in that regard.
#2 Last chance for Barcelona to cash in on Messi
Lionel Messi is now in the final year of his contract and he will be a free agent next summer if he chooses not to sign a new deal. The way things are going, it doesn't look like there's any chance that Lionel Messi will put pen to paper on a new contract.
Hence, this January transfer window gives Barcelona the last chance to cash in on this generational talent. Barcelona can raise a lot of money through selling Messi and they could reinvest it to sign maybe two or three top quality players. That's how much he would be worth.
If they do not sell him in the January transfer window, then they run the risk of losing him on a free and that'd a bizarre amount of money lost.
#1 Give their other signings a chance to thrive
For any attacker who joins Barcelona's ranks, they are immediately held to the same scale that Messi is. Given how prolific the Argentine is, almost everyone except for Neymar and Suarez have struggled to replicate such numbers. And they're immediately written off.
This has happened in the case of Coutinho and Griezmann. Also, the focus has never really been on them. This could also be one of the reasons why Ousmane Dembele suffers from disciplinary issues on top of his injury concerns. There is simply not enough attention given to them to help them come through.
The likes of Coutinho, Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele have played under the shadow of Messi till now and it could make a world of difference to them if all of a sudden they become the ones that have to lead this Barcelona side.
Also, it makes much more sense, from a business perspective, to sell a 33-year-old than players like Dembele or Griezmann who still have time to revitalize their careers.
