Lionel Messi made a bumpy touchdown in Barcelona on his return from international assignments. Customs officials met his private jet at El Prat airport and routine checks on paperwork caused an hour’s delay.
Then came the football-related interrogations. Reporters were waiting. What did Messi make of some peppery remarks, published while the Barcelona captain was away with Argentina, from a member of Barca striker’s Antoine Griezmann’s entourage? Eric Olhats, Griezmann’s former mentor and ex-agent, had called Messi an “emperor” who rules his club “with a reign of terror”, and had been a frosty team-mate to Griezmann.
“To be honest, I’m tired of always being the problem for everything at this club,” sighed Messi, as he set off for home, to turn his mind to Barcelona's unusually low place – eighth – in La Liga.
The Olhats interview, in France Football magazine, has been awkward for both Messi and Griezmann, another episode in the ongoing Barca soap opera.
Messi, whose contract expires next summer, tried to leave in August, the president resigned in October and the third different Barcelona manager of 2020, Ronaldo Koeman, is under pressure after one win from the last five league games. The Dutchman must now gather together his returning internationals and devise a plan for his toughest away trip yet, at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Griezmann, fresh from guiding France to a place in the next Uefa Nations League finals, landed back in Catalonia to more uncomfortable headlines.
Victor Font, a leading candidate to win elections for the next Barcelona president, had been setting out his manifesto. He cited Griezmann as an example of what the previous regime got wrong in their recruitment.
“He was clearly a signing that shouldn’t have happened because of the position he [Griezmann] plays in,” said Font. The Frenchman cost €120 million ($140m) from Atletico in 2019, and scored nine Liga goals in his first season – well down on the record that made him a figurehead at Atletico, at least until he agreed to join Barcelona, a year after turning them down and pledging himself to the Madrid club.
The saga of Barca’s prolonged pursuit, and Griezmann’s saying ‘No’ in 2018 and then ‘Yes’ a year later was always going to test the Griezmann-Barcelona marriage.
When Messi made it clear his own preference was that Barca try to re-sign Neymar, focus inevitably trained on the Messi-Griezmann pairing. Font’s verdict is that they are incompatible as footballers: “Griezmann came in to occupy the Messi’s position – it made fitting in very complicated.”
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Barca player ratings for 5-2 win over Real Betis
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BARCELONA RATINGS v REAL BETIS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 7. He won’t be happy at conceding twice but he could do little about either Betis goal. He did, however, make a fine save to deny William Carvalho. AP -
Jordi Alba – 6. It was from Alba’s cross that Messi stepped over for Griezmann to convert to open the scoring, but he wasn’t allowed his usual space to roam forward. . EPA -
Gerard Pique – 6. Another tricky night for Pique, who’s decision making let him down. He reacted slowly on both occasions when Sanabria and Loren found the net. AP -
Clement Lenglet – 6. Returning to the side after missing the game against Dynamo Kyiv in the week, he had a tough evening trying to contain Betis’ attackers. AFP -
Sergi Roberto – 5. Despite returning to the side and registering two assists, for Messi and Pedri, he had a difficult afternoon trying to contain Christian Tello. Getty -
Sergio Busquets – 5. A poor first half saw Busquets struggling to get his foot on the ball, but that improved as Barca edged ahead after the break. AFP -
Frenkie De Jong – 6. Looked a threat in the Real Betis half and offered Barca plenty of options when going forward, but still failed to protect his defence at the other end. AFP -
Pedri – 6. The youngster scored Barca’s fifth goal but was quiet overall. There was the occasional glimpse of quality, but not enough consistency. EPA -
Ousmane Dembele – 7. A fine performance, he scored the opening goal with a ferocious shot that caught Claudio Bravo by surprise in the Betis goal. EPA -
Ansu Fati – 6. The 18-year-old was replaced at half-time but he actually had a good first half, coming close with several attempts on goal. AP -
Antoine Griezmann – 7. The Frenchman missed a penalty, and a couple of chances in the first half, but he made up for it with a confidence-boosting goal by converting following Messi’s neat stepover. AFP -
SUBSTITUES: Lionel Messi – 8. Surprisingly left on the bench, the Argentine came on and made an impression after just four minutes. His movement enabled Greizmann to score, and he then grabbed two himself in an impressive cameo. Changed the game. EPA -
Francisco Trincao – 7. One of Barca’s better substitutions, he managed to get involved quickly and was always a threat as Barca turned on the style. AP -
Martin Braithwaite – 6. A disappointing evening for the Dane who came off the bench but struggled to get involved in the play. Reuters -
Miralem Pjanic – 6. Came on for the final five minutes as the home side tried to close the game out. Getty
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Font speaks as a campaigner who knows that votes, from the season-ticket holders empowered to choose the next president, will be swayed on the projected Barcelona future of Messi.
The heavy spending of recent years – €100m-plus on Griezmann, on Philippe Coutinho, on Ousmane Dembele – are an easy stick with which to batter the previous regime. But he is not alone for pointing out that the Messi-Griezmann axis has looked problematic at times.
France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, spoke last week of Griezmann’s difficult situation at Barcelona, while the player referenced how “playing his best position” – a more central role, rather than as a wide attacker – for his country had been beneficial over the last two international breaks. Griezmann shone in Les Bleus’ win over Portugal at the weekend.
He and Messi both contributed to the 5-2 victory over Real Betis that spread a little joy over troubled Barcelona just before the recess, Messi scoring his second and third goals of the Liga season and Griezmann setting up the opener and then netting himself. The win lifted Koeman's team into the top half of the table and hinted at an upturn.
Atletico will examine how real that is. To Griezmann's relief, there will be no spectators at the Metropolitano. The lingering sense of betrayal among fans of his former club is powerful.
To Koeman's relief, there will be no Luis Suarez, who left Barcelona reluctantly in the summer. The Uruguayan, who would top Messi's list of all-time favourite striking partners, tested positive for coronavirus while in South America. He is reported to be asymptomatic but obliged to serve his quarantine.
Suarez has so far thrived at his new club, his five goals in six matches having pushed unbeaten Atletico to third in the table.
They have two games in hand over leaders Real Sociedad and second-placed Villarreal, and, with Barca unsettled, and Real Madrid struggling for consistency, Atletico glimpse their best chance of a title since they eclipsed the so-called ‘Big Two’ to seize La Liga in 2014.
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Messi's 10 best goals for Barca
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Messi's best goals ... 10. Lionel Messi scores the second goal during the Champions League Final against Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico in 2009. Getty -
9. Messi scores winning goal against Estudiantes in extra time of the Club World Cup Final at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi in 2009. Stephen Lock / The National -
8. Messi fires an incredible free kick to score during La Liga match against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou in 2016. AFP -
7. Messi's flick and finish against Arsenal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg match at Camp Nou stadium in 2011 was breathtaking. Getty -
6. A nutmeg and a delightful chipped finish against Sevilla in 2012 made this the sixth favourite goal of Messi's 630 for Barcelona. AFP -
5. Messi made defenders fall over before chipping Bayern's Manuel Neuer during the first leg of the Champions League semifinal match in 2015. Getty -
4. An incredible mazy run and finish against Zaragoza in 2010. AFP -
3. Taking on and beating the entire Real Madrid defence in the Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu in 2011 will underline your popularity with Barca fans. Though possibly not with Real supporters. Getty -
2. Messi on his way to another spellbinding finish and the opening goal of the Copa del Rey Final against Bilbao in 2015. Getty -
1, Voted the fans' favourite, Messi basically took on the whole Getafe team in the Copa del Rey in 2007, and won. Incredibly, he started the run by beating two players while still in his own half. Getty
