Xavi has admitted that Barcelona won’t get over Lionel Messi’s departure, with a club legend having left in the summer of 2021.
- Messi joined PSG in 2021
- Barca had eventful transfer window to fill void
- Xavi hopeful new players can put club back on top
WHAT HAPPENED? It has been more than a year since Messi left Camp Nou, with the Argentine subsequently signing for Paris Saint-Germain, but Xavi feels that the Catalan club is still feeling the effects of his departure.
WHAT THEY SAID: “We won’t get over the departure of Messi because he is the best player in history. However, now there are other players who are destined to make history, but it won’t be easy,” the Barcelona manager has told reporters.
THE BIGGER PICTURE:Â There is little doubt that Barca have struggled to replace Messi, as they went trophyless in the 2021-22 campaign. However, they bought seven players this summer, including Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha, in an attempt to re-establish themselves as one of the best clubs in the world.
AND WHAT’S MORE: The new signings are firing on all cylinders, especially Lewandowski who has already got eight goals in five matches across all competitions, including a hat-trick in Barca’s thumping 5-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
- Who is the GOAT in football: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? A head-to-head comparison of statistics
- Messi surpasses LeBron James to top the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes, with Ronaldo rounding out the top three.
STORY IN THREE PHOTOS:
Getty Images
Getty
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA? The Spanish giants will return to Liga action on Saturday as they are slated to take on Cadiz away from home.
