Why the Time Is Right for Lionel Messi to Leave Barcelona

Lionel Messi and Barcelona go hand in hand.

For 10 years now, the Argentinian has written his name into football history, and all the while in the Blaugrana colours of Catalonia's finest.

There will come a time in the not-too-distant future, of course, when the football family says goodbye to the little genius. However, the general consensus is that we are a few years away from such pleasantries.

Having been at the club since 13 years of age, it's obvious to all that the marriage between player and club has been a successful one. Until recently.

Like all marriages, there have been ups and downs, but the relationship has always endured. 

But is a divorce on the cards?

Unless both parties are willing to mediate, it certainly appears possible. 

For supporters of Barca, it's inconceivable to even contemplate the thought of their best-ever player going elsewhere to end his career, let alone accepting the reality of the same.

However, there's never been a better time for Messi to consider cutting ties with his first love. 

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Transfer Ban and Team Decline 

We won't know what the true fallout from the year-long transfer ban will be until we are almost at its end, but for a team that wants to be challenging for the top honours, it's an absolute disaster.

The evolution of any side depends on the ability to freshen up the squad occasionally and, in Barcelona's case, purchase a high-quality replacement for any position.

Since Pep Guardiola's decision to leave, Barca have slowly but very surely eroded in terms of its talent base, to the point where the signings of Thomas Vermaelen and Douglas are lauded.

For Messi to be happy and assured of the club's commitment, building a team full of European football's best exponents around him is a prerequisite.

What must he and his entourage be thinking when the club goes out and buys a player such as Douglas knowing that, for a year at least, this is the quality of player who he is expected to win the Champions League alongside?

For a club of Barcelona's stature, what message does that send?

And that's without considering the discussion over which signings they will now miss out on because they can't sign anyone until 2016.     

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Blamed for Barca's Ills

Perhaps one of the main reasons for a fresh start is the continuous invective that is spouted in Messi's direction when things go wrong.

When media and fans alike go looking for a scapegoat, reporting is often biased against the Argentinian and certain inference attached.

The most recent example can be found in Richard Martin's column in the Daily Telegraph:

"

The official reason given for Lionel Messi's surprise no-show for Barcelona’s traditional annual open training session on Monday was ‘gastroenteritis’ but not everyone in Spain was convinced.

[...] Many pundits in Spain believed that Messi was publicly airing his grievance at being left out of the starting line-up for Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat to David Moyes’ Real Sociedad.

[...] The previously quiet noises about his discontent at Barca were blown away in December 2013 when Messi, who rarely reveals anything of note in interviews, launched a scathing attack on Barca’s vice-president of economic affairs Javier Faus, who had previously spoken against offering Messi a new contract six months after his last deal. Messi responded by calling Faus “someone who knows nothing about football.

[...] Despite the new deal, Messi continued to drop hints all was not well. Before the World Cup he said: “Barcelona is my home, but if they don’t want me or doubt me, I’d have no problem in leaving.” He caused similar unease at the club last November by telling an Argentinian newspaper: “Although I have said I’d like to stay at Barcelona for ever, things don’t always turn out how you want them to.”

[...] Messi had an angry exchange with Luis Enrique during a five-a-side game which the coach was officiating, with the Argentinian disagreeing with a decision.

The tension appeared to only be heightened by the defeat to Real Sociedad, with newspaper Mundo Deportivo reporting an angry exchange of words between the coach and Messi, who reportedly also insulted the club’s psychologist Joaquin Valdes.

"

Bear in mind that those words are from one column in one newspaper. Yet, it's a theme replicated in writing throughout the world. When the chips are down, blame Messi.  

Chance to Spearhead a New Project Elsewhere

Whether it's Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain or any other club that could afford the package to sign Lionel Messi, the chance to prove himself in another league could be too good to turn down.

Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, who has proved his worth in both the Premier League and La Liga, Messi's doubters will always remain unconvinced as to his excellence until he shines in one of the other top European leagues.

Forgetting, of course, that Messi remains atop the all-time scoring chart in the Champions League—the barometer of greatness at this point.

The chance to spearhead a new project alongside the type of player that Barcelona promised him, and then failed to deliver, would be very attractive indeed.