Three Players That Could Replace Lionel Messi For Barcelona

It is a transfer saga that already looks set to have a heart-breaking ending for Barcelona fans, as Lionel Messi could leave the Nou Camp in the summer. It looked as though Messi would get his wish to play away from Barcelona in the summer of 2020, but the club remained adamant that they wouldn’t let the legendary star leave for free.

However, they will not be able to stand in his way for leaving for free next summer as his current deal expires. The Argentinean doesn’t look likely to sign a new deal, which means that the club will be posed with the question of how to replace one of the greatest players that has ever played the game. These are three stars that could be brought in to help fill the void.

Mohamed Salah

It has been reported in the press that Liverpool star Mohamed Salah could be on the move next summer, as the winger has become unhappy with life in England. The timing could be perfect for Barcelona, as the Egyptian could be the ready-made star to step into the void left by Messi when he leaves the club. There is no doubt that Salah isn’t on the same level as Messi.

But, the qualities that he brings will ensure that the Egyptian could immediately fill in that position on the right-hand side. Salah’s goalscoring record since joining Liverpool has been nothing short of exceptional. He has scored 110 goals in 173 games, and has scored at least 20 goals in the Premier League is two of the three seasons that he has been in the division.

Lautaro Martinez

Barcelona could instead opt to replace Messi with another Argentinean international in the form of Lautaro Martinez. The Inter Milan striker would mean a change in system for Barcelona as he is an out-and-out number nine, but there is no debating the quality that the 23-year-old would bring to the club. Barcelona were interested in the striker last summer, but were eventually priced out of the move.

However, there is no doubt that they could return with a higher offer should Messi depart the club. Martinez has impressed in Serie A since joining Inter in 2018, with his best goalscoring season coming last term, as he scored 21 goals in 49 games in all competitions. He has struggled to maintain those heights this term, as he has only scored six goals in 19 games.

Ansu Fati

It may be a case of Barcelona just using Messi’s departure as the right time to bring through a young player with exciting potential. You would be hard-pressed to find a better player in world football when it comes to the potential to be a world star than Ansu Fati.

He burst onto the scene for Barcelona as he made his debut in August 2019, before going on to represent Spain for the first time a year later. Fati was establishing himself as a first-team regular this season, before injury cut short his season. The 18-year-old is expected to return before the end of the season, and could be the rightful heir to the throne that Messi leaves behind.

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