Barcelona: Lionel Messi runs rings around teammates in training
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has Juventus ‘scared’ ahead of their Champions League clash on Wednesday. The Argentina international has endured a troublesome start to the campaign since wanting to leave the Nou Camp back in the summer transfer window. But that hasn’t stopped the Old Lady from fearing a Messi masterclass.
Barcelona nearly lost Messi back in the summer, with the Argentina international pressing to leave the Nou Camp after their 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
In the end, however, he stayed put with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu refusing to grant him his wish.
Messi was livid afterwards, telling Goal: “I told the club, including the president, that I wanted to go. I've been telling him that all year. I believed it was time to step aside.
“I believed that the club needed more young players, new players and I thought my time in Barcelona was over. I felt very sorry because I always said that I wanted to finish my career here.
“It was a very difficult year, I suffered a lot in training, in games and in the dressing room. Everything became very difficult for me and there came a time when I considered looking for new ambitions.
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“It did not come because of the Champions League result against Bayern, no – I had been thinking about the decision for a long time.
“I told the president and, well, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not keep his word.”
And, in the time since, Messi has struggled.
The 33-year-old has scored just two goals from six appearances across La Liga and the Champions League, managing just one assist as well.
But, despite that, Tuttosport say Juventus are worried about Messi ahead of their clash on Wednesday.
"That's not true. I defended the interests of the club, accepting the consequences that refusing Messi's decision to go to one of our rivals would entail."
He then added: "Messi had a contract in vigour.
"The option to rescind the deal unilaterally had expired. And the most important thing was to start a new sporting cycle with Messi in the team.
"I understand he may be angry about not leaving. I tried to explain to him and his family that we could not let him go.
“He's the key to Koeman's project. I hope in the future he says he's happy, that he wants to renew his contract with the club and that he ends his career here."
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