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Lionel Messi's silence: he did not give the usual speech at the start of the season

2020-09-19T20:28:58.400Z


The Barcelona captain usually speaks to the fans on the day the Joan Gamper Trophy is put into play. The Rosario did it the last two years but this time, after his conflict with the club, he avoided the statements.


09/19/2020 - 16:58

  • Clarín.com

  • sports

The captain's tape that he wears on his left arm forced him to walk towards the trophy.

At a weary pace, with a lost gaze, Lionel Messi went and grabbed the Joan Gamper.

It is not the first time that he has to take those steps and raise the traditional award that pays tribute to the Swiss who founded the Football Club Barcelona.

A year ago, on August 4, 2019, Leo had grabbed the microphone and told all four sides of the Camp Nou that he did not regret anything.

"Last season the truth is that it ended up being a bit bitter," admitted the Argentine.

“But I think we must give value to the League that we have achieved, the eighth league in eight years.

For any club it should be great, for this one too, it is something very important and after time we will see how important it is ”.

#Messi, word of captain 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/v7D0cWLFfg

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) August 4, 2019

He closed the speech with the usual "Visca el Barça and Visca Catalunya".

President Josep Maria Bartomeu nods and applauds from the box.

The stadium breaks into an ovation.

A year later the image is completely different.

Beyond the closed doors that the coronavirus pandemic forces, the scene is different.

Messi does not speak.

He grabs the trophy, walks with it a couple of meters, puts it on the grass and runs off center stage.

He is to one side, lined up with the rest of his teammates and supported by an advertising poster for the photo that closes a 1-0 trotting victory against Elche in the last rehearsal before the start of the season, next week in front of Villarreal.

🔵🔴 TEAM 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/Uzp1idZrtt

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 19, 2020

There are links that seem impossible to rebuild.

The team will be able to renew itself, Ronald Koeman will be able to find a new formula to motivate Messi and to take the team back at the helm.

But the link between the Argentine and Bartomeu is already broken.

"As president I will not enter into conflict with our captain," said the leader in the hours before the game for Joan Gamper. "He speaks in the field, as we have seen. It is a finished topic. I could not allow it, like no other person of the board or the coaching staff, letting the best player in the world go. Things have to be discussed at home, not publicly. "

Messi already said his thing publicly.

In that hour-long interview with Goal.com in which he announced his continuity but was in charge of spicing it up with strong criticism of the president.

🏆 Joan Gamper Trophy @EstrellaDammEs 👏


💙❤ # ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/2TekyhMcQM

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) September 19, 2020

“Let's enjoy Leo.

He's excited about Koeman.

The important thing is that he plays for Barça, at home.

He is the best in the world and the best in the world has to play in our house.

We want him to retire at the club and make a project with Messi, ”insisted Bartomeu.

Two years ago, on August 15, 2018, Messi began his first season as team captain after the departure of Andrés Iniesta.

"For me it is a great pride to be captain. I know what it entails, but I was lucky to have great examples such as Puyol, Xavi and finally the great Andrés, who we will miss a lot," said Leo.

Leo's speech in his first season as main captain, in 2018 before the match against Boca for the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Photo: AFP

It was the prelude to the match for the Joan Gamper Trophy and the guest was Guillermo Barros Schelotto's Boca who lost 3-0.

"Although last year was very good because we won the Cup and the League, it is also true that we all got the thorn of the Champions League because of how the elimination was. So we promise that we will do everything possible to make that cup so beautiful and so desired by all to be back at the Camp Nou ".

What followed is known history.

The elimination in Rome was joined a year later by the link at Anfield and now the most humiliating, in Lisbon against Bayern Munich.

That is why there was not even a bittersweet message like the one in 2019 before beating Arsenal 2-1 and again going in search of Joan Gamper.

This time not even that.

Messi had other plans for this new season.

In his head it did not appear to be facing Bartomeu's box again and to see the president applauding from his armchair. 

Look also

The new Barcelona won his last trial at a trot and with brushstrokes from Messi

Bartomeu: "I couldn't allow Messi to leave, he's the best in the world and we want him to stay with us"

Source: clarin

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