Chapter 649: Messi's Dilemma
Messi has recently found himself in a dilemma because he hasn't scored in three consecutive league matches, which is quite normal for an ordinary attacking player.
But as the core of Barcelona, being left far behind by Real Madrid's Wang Feng, and even Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, is unacceptable to the fans.
What's worse is that after Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester City, his performance this season has been exceptionally outstanding, helping the Sky Blues shine in both the league and the Champions League, surpassing his own goal tally. The long-forgotten "duopoly" has once again been hyped up by the media.
In the 12th round of La Liga over the weekend, Barcelona welcomed their city rivals Espanyol at the Camp Nou. Throughout the match, the Catalan team struggled a lot, but eventually managed to clinch a 1-0 victory with Neymar assisting Suarez's winning goal.
Barcelona's biggest concern, however, was the outcome of Real Madrid's away match against Valladolid, which was decided later. With a half-rotated squad, the Galacticos fought to a 2-2 draw against their opponents, with Wang Feng registering an assist.
After 12 rounds, Real Madrid topped the league with 11 wins, 1 draw, and 34 points. Following closely behind were Atletico Madrid with 11 wins, 1 loss, and 33 points, and then Barcelona, also with 11 wins, 1 loss, and 33 points but with slightly lower goal difference.
Although the gap with the top has narrowed, the concerns of the Catalan fans have not eased at all because the Argentine superstar still hasn't scored, experiencing the longest goal drought in three years.
At the same time, Barcelona's victories have been extremely hard-fought, unlike the big wins they used to secure in previous years.
After the game, Messi admitted that he hasn't been in good form recently. He wrote on social media, "Playing against Espanyol is always tough, and my body hasn't fully recovered from the injury yet."
"But as the league progresses, I am confident that I can find the best rhythm to help the team compete for the championship!"
The media analyzed Messi's recent poor form from various angles, with Marca being particularly sharp in listing four points.
Firstly, it's the tactical arrangements of the new head coach, Martino, regarding the Argentine superstar's role. He is no longer an absolute starter and irreplaceable first-choice player, often being substituted midway or waiting for opportunities on the bench.
Secondly, Neymar's gradual maturity and the arrival of Suarez have seen the Brazilian star fulfill his footballing potential after several years of honing his skills, while the Uruguayan's attacking efficiency is also very high.
Thirdly, injuries have resurfaced. Messi has hardly been troubled by injuries in recent years, but since the end of last season, he has been plagued by minor injuries. Although his absence from games is not long, his rhythm and form are constantly disrupted.
The last point is even more important. Marca speculated that the Argentine star might be saving himself for the World Cup, as he wants to pursue higher honors.
Therefore, Messi feels that he must participate in the World Cup in the best condition possible, starting now to pay attention to protecting his body and consciously toning down his playing style.
It must be said that often the people who understand you best are your opponents, and Marca's analysis of the reasons is very close to the truth. This is also the place where Messi's inner conflict and confusion lie.
In terms of club honors, years of failed title challenges have left him somewhat disillusioned. Seeing Wang Feng's continued dominance in the new season, he may instinctively feel a sense of slackness, knowing that no matter how hard he tries, it will all be in vain.
In terms of individual honors, he is definitely out of contention for the Ballon d'Or this year. However, it is well known that the best time to contend for the prestigious award is next year. Almost all knowledgeable individuals believe that winning the World Cup is the only way to break the dominance of the Chinese superstar.
So Messi appears hesitant on the field, with a significant decrease in his attempts to dribble past opponents and fewer breakthroughs, naturally resulting in a steep decline in goals scored.
Of course, there is another little-known reason troubling the Argentine superstar, which is that his former mentor Guardiola called him, hoping he would join Bayern Munich!
In the eyes of the public, only the two oil tycoon teams, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, have a chance to lure Messi away from Barcelona. But little do they know that Bayern is also brewing up a hefty offer.
The Argentine's contract with Barcelona includes a staggering �250 million buyout clause, but as Adidas's most important endorser, Messi's team, Barcelona, is sponsored exclusively by Nike.
So Adidas is willing to pay half of the buyout clause to push for his move to their sponsored team, even willing to cover part of his salary, which conveniently fits Bayern's requirements.
The other half still needs to be paid by the club. Guardiola spared no effort to persuade the typically stingy Bavarian higher-ups, from personal abilities to commercial value. Finally, he managed to convince them to splash out �125 million to acquire Messi.
"Come to Germany, Leo. Your talent shouldn't continue to be wasted in La Liga. Here, we have everything you need, and we also need you!" Guardiola said passionately over the phone.
It must be said that Messi was tempted. For him, Bayern is a "shortcut" to winning the league title. Although threats like Borussia Dortmund have appeared in the past, most of the time they have remained dominant.
Moreover, seeing Barcelona being swept 0-7 by Bayern in last year's Champions League semifinals, Messi is impressed by the rationality and strength of the Bayern squad. Perhaps with himself included, they really have a chance to compete with Real Madrid and win the long-awaited Champions League title!
Just as Messi was in deep turmoil, several Barcelona veterans, including Puyol, Xavi, and Iniesta, gathered together to discuss ways to help the Argentine superstar return to his peak.
"It's not just about the games. Leo seems a bit distracted during training these days," Iniesta said with concern.
"We must talk to him, listen to his true thoughts and difficulties, so we can identify the key points of his troubles. If he has any issues with the coach's arrangements, then I'll go talk to the coach with him," current captain Xavi said.
Puyol, due to injuries and age, has not represented Barcelona in matches for a long time, but he is still the eternal flag in the hearts of all Catalan players.
"Let's do this. Let's have a gathering at his house on the rest day. Javier, Andres, let's all bring our families and children, and create a relaxed atmosphere. I believe under such circumstances, Leo will find it easier to open up," Puyol suggested.
Soon they expressed their plan for a family dinner together to Messi, who naturally agreed. The group talked a lot, with Puyol discreetly inquiring about Messi's recent situation.
"I'm just a little tired," Messi said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "I always hear people saying that the future belongs to me, but when will this future really come?"
Xavi advised, "You're putting too much pressure on yourself. To be honest, your performance in recent years speaks for itself, and history will eventually give a more fair evaluation."
Apart from Bayern's poaching attempt, the group discussed almost all issues openly, including saving energy for the World Cup. "It's natural to protect yourself," Puyol said. "After being injured, it's easy to feel stressed, it's a normal reaction."
"But be careful not to turn it into a habit. Otherwise, when you want to exert yourself in the future, your body will subconsciously avoid it, and you might actually lose strength by trying to conserve it."
Messi nodded, looking at the concerned expressions of his senior friends, feeling much less confused and troubled. He ultimately couldn't bring himself to sacrifice many things for achievements and glory, like Cristiano Ronaldo does.
If he really agreed to Bayern's offer, it would inevitably lead to a rift with Barcelona. How would he face these former friends then?
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