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Lionel Messi kept Dybala away from Barcelona

By Barrett Rouen

BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 01: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona advances with the ball under pressure from Hernan Santana of UD Las Palmas during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Las Palmas at Camp Nou on October 1, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. The match is being played with empty stands after the events occured in Catalonia during the voting of a Catalonia independence referendum declared illegal and undemocratic by the Spanish government. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 01: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona advances with the ball under pressure from Hernan Santana of UD Las Palmas during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Las Palmas at Camp Nou on October 1, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. The match is being played with empty stands after the events occured in Catalonia during the voting of a Catalonia independence referendum declared illegal and undemocratic by the Spanish government. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /
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In a peculiar move the Daily Star has reported that Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has blocked a move for fellow Argentine hero Paulo Dybala to trade Turin for Catalonia.

Following the loss of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain this summer Barcelona were in the market for a young superstar to fill the void left by the charismatic Brazilian.  In order to do fill that void with a player of equal quality Barcelona were apparently chasing one of the few players in Europe who could potentially meet the Brazilian on the talent spectrum in Juventus’ Paulo Dybala.

According to the original source Diario Gol (via the Daily Star )say “Barca bigwigs were keen to secure his services – but Messi vetoed the deal.”

It is suggested that though Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players in the history of the game, has 5 Ballon D’Or awards and has amassed a personal net worth thought to be upwards of 230 million pounds he was threatened by Paulo Dybala and doesn’t want the younger player in the same side as he.

Dybala is seven years younger than Messi and plays in a similar position to the Argentine superstar.  Though it could have been perhaps a benefit to Messi to have a player in such a similar mold whom he could nurture and extend his career Messi appears unable to see past the edge of his own nose on this issue.  Dybala will at some point soon be one the best players in the Europe if not the best as he is already having a fantastic season.

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Messi surely knows that at the age of 30 he’ll need to adapt his game to play differently.  As of yet he has still not slowed down at all and is still a top talent without question.  But at some point it will have to be acknowledged that he didn’t do enough to keep Neymar around.  Barcelona are weaker without the Brazilian, fact.

It’s impossible to state how things will turn out but questions need to start being asked.  Is Messi hating Barcelona’s future chances with his attitude?  He forced out Neymar and denied Dybala?  Does that sound like a good thing for a club?  How much is he hurting himself with this childishness?  For a player known for his teamwork and selflessness is this a new more self-centered Messi that is emerging?

Dybala, Suarez, Messi and Neymar would have been the most destructive force in Europe bar none.  It would have been truly, madly, deeply talented and yet because of Messi it is only Suarez and Messi who play for the Catalan side.

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Messi is the best player in the history of Barcelona and has more to do with the current popularity of the club around the world than any other player in the world does with their club.  That said the more Messi involves himself in the running of Barcelona is it possible the more he will damage that thing which he has had such a great hand in building?

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