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#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.
