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Lionel Messi's decision to leave Barcelona has left the club's fanbase in a state of shock. There is not a single player in the world that can replace Lionel Messi and those that do pretend to his throne are great players in their own right but are leagues behind Lionel Messi in terms of consistency.
Lionel Messi has stayed at Barcelona for nearly two decades and has become an emblem of the club. The Argentine genius is the greatest player in the club's history and will leave a gaping hole that will possibly never be filled at Barcelona. Lionel Messi has contributed to over 10% of the goals scored in Barcelona's history and a replacement for the Argentine simply does not exist.
Barcelona needs to compensate for Lionel Messi's departure
Barcelona's incompetent board is unlikely to have a contingency plan in place to mitigate the damage that will be caused by Lionel Messi's departure. The effect created by an Argentine in the final third can only be replicated by a robust tactical system and a shrewd transfer policy. Barcelona's proficiency in both these regards is highly questionable at the moment.
If the current board continues its reign of terror, Barcelona is likely to make a big investment in this transfer window to compensate for Lionel Messi's absence. None of these big names is capable of the sheer magic that Lionel Messi brings to the pitch but for a Barcelona side that is struggling at the moment, a talisman may well be the need of the hour.
#5 Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez is nowhere near Lionel Messi in terms of skill or talent but is a brilliant player in his own right. The Algerian star has shown tremendous improvement under Pep Guardiola and has a good understanding of Barcelona's philosophy.
Manchester City is currently the favourite to sign Lionel Messi and Barcelona may well ask for a player in return. Riyad Mahrez is a staple for Pep Guardiola's side on the right flank and his claim to a spot in the starting eleven with certainly be complicated by Lionel Messi's arrival.
Riyad Mahrez has stacked up 11 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League this season and is perfectly capable of playing in a central and creative role. The Algerian magician will certainly not be able to make up for Lionel Messi's absence but can offer the Barcelona attack a definitive cutting edge.
#4 Jadon Sancho
Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho is an unlikely option for Barcelona but his potential acquisition may well be the first good decision taken by the Catalan club in the past several years. The young English prodigy has enjoyed a sensational season in Germany and has been linked to several high-profile clubs across Europe.
Manchester United has failed in its pursuit of Sancho and Borussia Dortmund continues to demand a bid of €120 million for the forward. Lionel Messi's sale is sure to raise its fair share of funds and Barcelona needs to make the most of its miniature silver lining.
Jadon Sancho offers a different dimension to Barcelona and his creativity in the final third can provide the Blaugrana's attack with a massive shot in the arm. With Lionel Messi absent, Barcelona needs a source of ingenuity in the team and Jadon Sancho is perfectly capable of playing the role.
Also Read: Ranking the 5 most realistic destinations for Lionel Messi
#3 Neymar
The only reason Neymar is not at the very top of this list is that Paris Saint-Germain would never let its enigmatic magician go for a price that is currently affordable to Barcelona. At his best, Neymar is arguably the only player in the world that can create the aura that Lionel Messi has made his own over the past decade.
Neymar was instrumental to Paris Saint-Germain's brilliant run in the Champions League this season. The Brazilian winger does not share a good relationship with Barcelona's board, however, and will think twice before returning to the Camp Nou. Barcelona can still use the funds raised from Lionel Messi's sale to convince its former superstar to make a storied return to the club.
Neymar was touted as the rightful heir to Lionel Messi's throne when he joined the club in 2013 and certainly played the part during Barcelona's treble-winning campaign in 2015. While there are several roadblocks that need to be removed to complete this transfer, Barcelona is perfectly aware that Neymar's return is still within the realm of possibility.
#2 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann has endured a difficult first season at Barcelona. The French striker has put in an incredible amount of hard work but the mere fact that he has not played in his preferred position has resulted in a string of failures at Barcelona. With Lionel Messi's role up for grabs, the Frenchman may arguably be Barcelona's best bet at the moment.
Griezmann has all the attributes required to play a creative role at Barcelona. The French forward often plays in conjunction with a typical poacher for his national team and did wonders at Atletico Madrid in a central and pivotal role. Antoine Griezmann may not have the skill and dribbling prowess of Lionel Messi but his intelligence in the final third can be a lethal asset.
Barcelona paid a hefty price for Antoine Griezmann and may finally be able to bring the best out of the French striker. Griezmann has shown glimpses of his sheer talent alongside Lionel Messi for Barcelona this season and will look forward to taking up a more influential role in the side.
#1 Paulo Dybala
Barcelona's tryst with Argentine number-tens is well-documented. The likes of Diego Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Lionel Messi have graced the Camp Nou with their magic and while Lionel Messi is leagues above the rest in a Barcelona shirt, Paulo Dybala can potentially be his successor at the Catalan club.
When Dybala first made his mark for Juventus in 2015, fans in Argentine considered him a worthy reincarnation of Lionel Messi. While his career may not have reached the heights that it promised, Dybala is still an excellent asset to have in the side and his recent performances with Juventus have indicated that the magical forward is finally coming of age.
Paulo Dybala has been linked with a move away from the Serie A and Lionel Messi's departure might pave the way for an unprecedented transfer to Barcelona. The Catalan club is in dire need of stability and youthful talent at the moment and Paulo Dybala may well be the ideal fit.
Also Read: 5 things Barcelona must do if they lose Lionel Messi
