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Goodbye to all that
In many ways, it’s fitting that it happened in 2020. In a year that’s already seen Kobe’s death, the Olympics postponed and a historic NBA player strike in the playoffs, our grasp of reality was further tested last Tuesday.
It was one of those moments that you’ll remember exactly where and when you first got the news. I was in my room that evening, when my phone buzzed with a text from a friend — ‘Messi leaving Barca, I’m heartbroken right now’. In the last couple of years, there’s been at least one story about Messi’s departure in every transfer window, so my initial reaction was one of wary skepticism. After corroborating the news ( from the ever reliable news source that is Twitter), the skepticism made way for quiet disbelief as it slowly started to sink in. When you think of Messi, the image that’s conjured is of him with his arms spread out and a mischievous grin on his face…. in a Barcelona jersey. Just the thought of him playing for another club felt blasphemous.
The most pressing question, in the aftermath of the 8–2 demolition at the hands of Bayern Munich, was Messi’s future. Should he stay or should he go? It’s a highly contentious topic, and it’s provided a unique glimpse into the different types of Messi fans that exist.
The stay brigade is dominated by those who’ve watched Messi on only the biggest of stages — the Champions League, the World…
