Lionel Messi has been labelled a filthy traitor by irate Barcelona fans following the Catalan giants’ Champions League match against Inter Milan.
This happened following the thrilling draw at Camp Nou between two of the biggest clubs in Europe. Messi’s liking of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez’s Instagram post with the description “Heart, Personality, Humility and Forza Inter” was noticed by Barcelona supporters.
As expected, Barcelona supporters were not pleased to see Messi liking the post, especially given the likelihood that Xavi’s team will drop out of the Champions League group stage for a second consecutive season.
Quickly, supporters voiced their displeasure with the seven-time Ballon d’Or victor.
An Angry fan said: “Another proof that Messi does not feel sorry for Barcelona a club that made him who he is today and then later he broke the club and ran away, he is such a shameless traitor.”
While another tweeted: “This is what I mean when I say this guy was a mercenary.”
A third supporter went even further and urged the team to reject his return, stating: “Fraud. Don’t accept his return.
While many other Barcelona supporters simply called the Argentine icon a “traitor” and a “Judas.”
Although Messi’s “like” may have been poorly timed, it is also understandable given that both Messi and Martinez are members of the Argentine national team.
Messi rose to prominence while playing for Barcelona and became one of the greatest players to ever step foot on a football field. He appeared in 778 games overall and scored an astounding 672 goals.
When Messi sensationally transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, his tenure at Barcelona came to an emotional close.
However, because his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2023, rumors about a potential return to the Camp Nou have already started to gain momentum.
Messi has been in excellent form this season, making 13 games in all competitions and recording eight goals and eight assists.
As the captain of an Argentina team aiming for victory at football’s biggest competition, the 35-year-old will be hoping his excellent form continues into the World Cup.
Why did Lionel Messi leave Barcelona?
On August 4, 2021, during a friendly match between FC Salzburg and Barcelona in Austria, American international Brenden Aaronson scored a shock winner for FC Salzburg.
Barca president Joan Laporta was using his phone at the time, and his activity informed the other members of the club’s traveling delegation of the problem.
Less than a day later, the Catalan club made the shocking football statement that revealed the reason behind Laporta’s frantic calls: Lionel Messi was going.
Messi spent 20 years with Barcelona after moving from Argentina when he was just a teenager. He was 34 at the time.
He established himself as the club’s all-time appearance and leading scorer during that span, tallying 672 goals in 778 games.
He won 11 LaLiga championships, four Champions League championships, and six times was crowned the world’s best player (and for a seventh time since leaving.) Messi playing for another club was unfathomable, as was Barcelona without him.
Because Barca was in debt by €1.35 billion as a result of years of excessive spending and the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were unable to offer Messi a new contract and were forced to let him join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
The option to extend his PSG contract for a another season is available; however, it ends on June 30, 2023.
