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It is finally happening. After a horrendous end to their 2019/20 season, Lionel Messi has decided to call it a day on his time at Barcelona. Lionel Messi's unwavering loyalty has been one of Barcelona's greatest assets in the 21st century and now it looks like they will have to prepare for life without the diminutive magician.
Barcelona went trophyless this season and that is, in no small part, owing to the atrocious recruitment habits and poor management policies the Cules have adopted over the past few years.
That Messi is displeased with the board and wants to leave is clear now. But where can he go? Who has the financial clout to accommodate one of the greatest footballers of all time? We think he should head over to the Serie A. Let's take a look at 5 reasons why Lionel Messi should do that.
#5 Lionel Messi could cement his status as the greatest of all time
Perhaps the only argument that Lionel Messi's detractors proffer and holds weight is that he has spent his entire career at Barcelona and has not broken out of his comfort zone. In fact, he was challenged by his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo to move to Serie A and encounter new hurdles.
Messi has himself admitted that he misses his arch-nemesis. After joining Juventus, Ronaldo had famously said,
"No, maybe he misses me. I played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, in the national team, while he is still in Spain. Maybe he needs me more. For me, life is a challenge, I like it, and I like to make people happy.
I would like him to come to Italy one day. Like me, accept the challenge. However, if he is happy there, I respect him. He is a fantastic player, a good guy, but I do not miss anything here. This is my new life, and I'm happy."
Lionel Messi could move to the Serie A and if he goes on to be successful there, then he can silence his critics and prove to the world that he can adapt to a new philosophy and still continue to perform at the highest level. Thus he can cement his status as the greatest of all time.
#4 Players over 30 still thriving in Serie A
It's not that age is catching up with Lionel Messi. But at 33, his body won't let him perform at the levels he used to when he was in his 20s and running around the football ground leaving defenders for dead. Serie A would be a great hunting ground for Messi as players over 30 have continued to thrive in the Italian top-flight.
A 35-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo scored 31 goals from 33 appearances in the Serie A this term. Atalanta's Josep Ilicic, who was their standout performer in an excellent campaign, is 32 years old. The European Golden shoe winner, Ciro Immobile is 30-years-old and scored 36 league goals from 37 appearances in the league.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been absolutely sensational for AC Milan since returning to the club aged 38. Atalanta's Alejandro Gomez has been one of the best attacking midfielders of the 2019-20 Serie A season and he is 32. These are just a few examples.
As such, there is no doubt that Lionel Messi could hit the ground running in the Serie A should he find the right team as opposed to the Premier League where the higher intensity of the games often takes a toll on old legs.
#3 The likes of Inter Milan and Juventus are better poised to win the Champions League than Barcelona
Barcelona are currently in no shape to be mounting a UEFA Champions League title challenge. Burdened with an ageing squad and working under severe financial strain owing to the Covid pandemic, it's hard to see them getting back on their feet next season.
Teams like Inter Milan or Juventus are much better poised than Barcelona in this regard. Messi's arrival could arguably transform them into world-beaters. Inter Milan could definitely use Messi's striking and playmaking abilities.
If he does choose to move to the Serie A, there are only very few teams that can accommodate him. Juventus are definitely one of those sides. And if he does end up at Juventus, then all hell will break loose as football fans will finally get their wish of watching both Ronaldo and Messi play for the same side. Oh, what a sight that will be!
#2 To follow Maradona's footsteps and do it better
Diego Maradona is revered and celebrated in Naples like he is a God. The legendary Maradona arrived in Napoli from Barcelona as a 24-year-old and it is in the storied Italian City that he spent the major part of his career.
Maradona's arrival galvanized the team and he led them to two league titles, 1 UEFA Cup, 1 Coppa Italia and 1 Supercoppa Italia. He wrote himself into the Naples folklore and even today you can find murals of Maradona on the streets of Naples.
Lionel Messi cannot be faulted for wanting to leave Barcelona. He will forever be considered as arguably the greatest Barcelona player of all time and the city will continue to celebrate him for all his contributions.
And if he chooses to move to a team like Inter Milan or Napoli, who haven't really tasted much mainstream success in the recent past and bring them back into relevance and win titles, then Messi will be celebrated just as much in another city that's far from home.
Therefore, following Maradona's footsteps and going to Italy would be an appropriate conclusion to a spectacular career as there is perhaps no other country in the world who can match the ethos of Italian football.
#1 Final chapter in Messi's rivalry with Ronaldo
The Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi rivalry has given football fans some of the greatest memories since the turn of the millennium. When Ronaldo and Messi were playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, they used to light up the La Liga, stacking up ridiculous numbers and urging each other to be at their best.
Both Ronaldo and Messi are champion footballers and would absolutely relish competing against one another yet again and there is no doubt that they will push each other to greater heights.
It would also be a dream come true for fans to have another chapter in this sprawling saga that has lent itself to some great footballing action over the first two decades of the 21st century. It will be a fitting final chapter to an incredible rivalry that has spanned more than a decade.
