“Messi’s behavior is disappointing, there is no going back”

Barcelona’s presidential candidate Toni Freixa speaks in an interview about Lionel Messi’s desire to move, saying the decision is “irrevocable.”

He worked at Barça for many years as a spokesperson and official for the presidents Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Bartomeu and wants to succeed the latter: Toni Freixa. The 51-year-old lawyer has a clear opinion on Lionel Messi and his behavior in recent days.

“As I have heard from various sectors, the player’s decision has matured for several years and is irrevocable. I don’t think there will be going back, “says Freixa in an interview with” Spox. ” And also: “Messi longs for maximum success. You can’t do it alone, you need a team to do it. It doesn’t have that. International success has been lacking since the triple win in 2015. That worries him. His decision is due to the negative sports development in recent years. “

Freixa doesn’t want to blame anyone for Messi’s thoughts on the change, but says that club president Josep Bartomeu is certainly an accomplice: “He couldn’t prevent Messi from seeing the only alternative for himself in a club change. This is a disaster. “Bartomeu will resign in March, Freixa will run for his successor after he had already done so in 2015 and failed.

However, Messi’s behavior was “surprising and disappointing,” according to Freixa. “The fact that he is now announcing his play so unilaterally in a written notification and simply does not reappear indicates a deep conflict that both Barça and the player himself cast a bad light on.” The 33-year-old stayed away from the mandatory crown tests at the weekend and is also likely to miss the Catalans’ start of training.

“The departure of Messi can also be liberating for Barça”

Although Barcelona had declared that Messi was not for sale and insisted on the 700 million euro buy-out clause, Freixa hopes a peaceful solution will be found. “I don’t think a club is willing to pay Messi’s clause. But you can negotiate a reasonable sum that gives Barça the opportunity to look around the transfer market. “

Barça without Messi, is it even conceivable? “Of course,” says the former official. «In life everything comes to an end at some point. And even if there is no player like him, his departure would be an opportunity for Barça to become a team less dependent on a single player ”. An exit from the six-time world footballer could also be liberating, says Freixa.

And where would Messi fit in better? “I think City is likely,” says the future presidential candidate. «It was with Pep Guardiola that Messi lived his most colorful years at Barcelona. It would be logical for both of them to work together again. “Furthermore, unlike Barça, the top English club has” the financial means to build a team that can win anything. “