Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona, or shall we say inevitable departure, has come as a shock to many. Football fans in general were left stunned, not only Cules, while the Argentine himself was said to be devastated by this decision as he had agreed to stay at the Camp Nou.
And this does not even take into consideration the response of his team-mates, some of which have shared a dressing room with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner for over a decade. Sergio Busquets, who was the first senior Blaugrana player to publicly pay tribute to La Pulga, falls into this category, as does Gerard Pique.
The Spanish center-back has played alongside Messi in the Barcelona first team since returning to the club from Man United back in 2008, conquering the world with the diminutive magician. That is more than 13 years of camaraderie brought to an end in the blink of an eye. As a result, when the defender took to social media to bid farewell to his close friend, he penned one of the most heartfelt and touching goodbyes in recent football history.
"Nothing will be the same again. Not the Camp Nou, not the city of Barcelona, not ourselves," Pique wrote on Instagram.
"After more than 20 years at the club, you will stop wearing the Barça t-shirt. Reality, sometimes, is very harsh.
"We met in 2000, we were 13 years old and had a career ahead of us. What career! The mother who gave birth to us! If we had designed it at that time, it would be impossible to do it better. A f*cking madness!
"In my first season, after returning to FC Barcelona, we won the treble and you became the best player of all time. From Rosario to touching the sky of Rome. That's where the legend began. What came next is history. And what a time we had!
"Now you are leaving, but I know that one day you will come back. There are things to do. Have fun, enjoy wherever you go and keep winning as only you know how to do. Here we will miss you. I love you Leo."
Pique's emotional reaction is understandable as Messi is yet another member gone from Barcelona's unforgettable lineup from the late 2000s to the early 2010s. First Puyol hung up his boots; then Xavi bid his goodbye. Not long after, Andres Iniesta and Dani Alves saw their time at the Camp Nou come to an end, with Leo – the most crucial and iconic member – now walking out the door.
Things are made worse by the fact that the 34-year-old was keen on staying. Unlike last summer when he handed in a transfer request, the Argentine intended on remaining with the Blaugrana and had even reached an agreement with president Joan Laporta. Unfortunately, the club's dire financial situation meant that despite all their efforts, registering their all-time goalscorer proved impossible as they have already surpassed their wage cap.
La Pulga's future remains uncertain. While some fans still hope to see the one-club player remain in Catalonia, as things stand currently, a move to PSG—followed by a transfer to one of Man City or Chelsea—appears most likely.
