For Barcelona and the supporters, the culmination of the 2020/21 season is gradually closing, as is the moment of reckoning. Lionel Messi's future is still up in the air, and whatever step he takes, we should know sooner than expected. It's still anyone's guess at this point. Of course, the media have their own opinions, and regardless of who you ask, Leo is either staying or going. But it's better to leave the debate to the newspapers while we concentrate on what we can expect and interpret.
Some factors, for example, might increase his chance of staying while others may do the exact opposite:
1) Contractual Predicament
Messi has a favourable deal with Barcelona, and also any club attempting to entice him away from the Catalan capital will have to be willing to spend a lot of money to do so. Even though he earns a lot of money and he might earn in a day more than what most of us make in a year, it's fair to assume that, as he nears the end of his career, the Argentinian gem will be searching for something much more tangible.
Perhaps Messi would prefer a contract that does not have any ultimatums. Leo was put in such a situation last summer when he wanted to leave and would try to avoid a circumstance like this.
2) Promising sport projects
If there is still anything we do know about Messi, it's that he's competitive. Every single time. In this regard, Barcelona lacks a trustworthy and ambitious sporting initiative that could persuade Leo to stay. Barcelona must ensure that the majority of the team is as efficient as they are if they want the greatest player in football history to continue wearing the Blaugrana colours. It's not about who has the most clout or who has the highest price tag; it's about who fits. Although he is still the best player in history, Messi is in his 30s and will eventually slow down. If that doesn’t happen, a team like PSG, Bayern or Manchester City surely will.
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3) One last shot
Somehow related to the last one. A competitive squad would fight for trophies. This includes the local competitions as well as having a genuine chance at glory in Europe as well. This might have a huge impact on Leo’s decision as well. If Barcelona continues to falter on the grandest stage, persuading Messi to stay will become even more difficult. No one plans to lose his final years in elite football battling for titles while barely hanging on. That is not the way to go for any athlete, let alone the greatest in the history of the sport. If he decides that this is not possible at the Camp Nou, his chances of remaining would be severely hampered.
4) Continuing a Legacy
Needless to say, even if he leaves, his legacy at Camp Nou will always remain untouched. Messi, on the other hand, is unlikely to want Barcelona to become irrelevant once he leaves. Just how he received Ronaldinho as a mentor, perhaps he wants to pass the baton to somebody else before deciding to quit. At the present, Ansumane Fati, who is hampered by injuries, maybe that person. Assuring Leo that he has students to train and a palette to color on will persuade him that remaining will strengthen the club in the longer term. It’s reasonable to say that he wouldn’t abandon such a huge project before it’s finished.
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