Inevitably, this is not what we will remember first of this semi-final return of the King’s Cup, Wednesday evening. Outclassed at home by Real Madrid of Karim Benzema, author of a hat-trick (0-4), FC Barcelona was eliminated despite its success in going to the Spanish capital (0-1). But before the white machine started, a large part of the 70,000 spectators at Camp Nou had expressed their desire to see Lionel Messi wear the Blaugrana jersey again.
Following calls made on social networks, “Culés” fans chanted “Messi! Messi! Messi! from the 11th minute of the game, when the score was still blank.
A probable departure from PSG this summer
The rumor of a return of the Argentine world champion to the land of his exploits has been growing for several days, following the inverse curve of his popularity at the Parc des Princes. At the end of the contract, the seven-time Ballon d’Or should leave PSG this summer after a mixed experience of two years.
If Messi has the opportunity to afford a golden early retirement in Miami or Saudi Arabia, the temptation to return to the Catalan fold is great. Is it really a good idea to recruit a player, even extraordinary, soon to be 36 years old (he will celebrate them on June 24), sated with titles after winning the most beautiful in December in Qatar? A priori yes, for many Barça supporters.