Why Lionel Messi would be a brilliant signing for Liverpool
According to La Repubblica (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona and Argentina talisman Lionel Messi if he intends to leave Barcelona. ESPN pundit Gab Marcotti (h/t The Express) has claimed that Messi could leave Barcelona in the summer after a rift with Eric Abidal, the director of football at Barcelona.
Messi, 32, moved to Barcelona from Newell’s Old Boys’ youth system in 2010. Since then, he has played his entire professional career for the Catalonians. He has established himself as one of the best footballers in the modern era alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and has been at the top for a decade or more.
In 713 appearances for the La Liga giants, he has scored 622 goals and provided 259 assists. In the process, he has won numerous trophies with the club, including 10 league titles and six Champions League titles.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been the best team in England this season and are in a strong position to win the Premier League title at the end of this campaign. The leaders are currently 22 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp has led the team brilliantly, winning the Premier League’s manager award for the fifth time already. He has been instrumental in changing the fortunes of the Reds, who were hovering around the mid-table spots four seasons back.
Liverpool have a set of quality players in every area of the pitch and their attacking unit consisting of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has led the line brilliantly. And to continue their dominance, the manager would have to add some established and new faces to the team. Therefore, an interest in Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is logical.
The six-time Ballon D’ Or winner has proved himself at the highest level for the past 10 years and can be lethal to any team’s attacking unit. His presence in the team would be a huge boost and the Reds would definitely become a force to reckon with for a few more years.
According to Stephen Crawford of Goal (h/t Bleacher Report), Messi has said that his game has become more towards playmaking than goalscoring in recent years. And that is evident from number of assists he provides these days.
Predominantly a right-winger, the 32-year-old can play exceptionally well as a centre-forward and also as a false 9. At Liverpool, given they have a trio of prolific goalscorers, Messi’s assistance from behind the frontline would help them reach a different level in terms of scoring goals.
Even at 32, Messi doesn’t seem to be slowing down and he still has some years to continue at the top. And the Reds can keep dominating the Premier League and Europe with the Argentine star in their ranks, given he performs at his best in a different league from what he is playing in right now.
Read more
- Why Liverpool should pursue Wolves star Adama Traore despite £75m price tag
- Why Pedro Brazao would be a good long-term signing for Liverpool
Verdict
Though it is unlikely to lure Messi easily out of Barcelona, the Anfield outfit must not miss out on a chance to acquire his services if it presents itself. In doing so, they would certainly become the very best and under the guidance of Klopp, they can continue to keep winning a lot of trophies.
