LIONEL MESSI shirts were still being sold at Barcelona’s club shop this morning despite the star announcing he’s leaving the club yesterday.
The Barca faithful don’t seem ready to part ways with their idol just yet and were seen eyeing up his No.10 shirt ahead of the new season.
In a Twitter video released by Football Daily, two fans of the Catalan side had a Messi top in their hands, apparently unbothered by his exit.
The Argentine superstar has built a strong bond with the club’s supporters during his 17-year stint there which has seen him score a staggering 672 goals in 778 appearances.
The 34-year-old had been flirting with the idea of leaving Barca since his contract ended in June.
Despite claims that he had already made up his mind to seek a new challenge elsewhere, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner had been trying to negotiate a new deal with Barca.
But due to the club’s financial woes it became clear that they wouldn’t be able to keep hold of their prized possession.
Barca’s president Joan Laporta claimed that the attacking phenomenon had wanted to stay put and was even willing to take a pay cut to do so.
He said: “He wanted to stay even if our offer was inferior to others he had.”
Laporta then slammed the club’s previous owners for leaving them in a financial hole which has led to Messi’s departure.
And Laporta went on to admit that Messi, who won 10 La Liga titlea at the Nou Camp, has had a flurry of offers from clubs across the globe.
He added: “You’d have to ask Messi about that and his agents, I won’t talk about that.
“He’s the best player in the world and logic takes you to think he has other very good offers.”
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The two clubs leading the race for his signature are Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
PSG seem to be favourites to sign Messi and reports say there’s already been contact with representatives from both sides.
But City could snatch the striker out of the Ligue 1 side’s clutches as he may want to rekindle his bond with ex-Barca and City boss Pep Guardiola.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
