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Lionel Messi and Barcelona sent shockwaves through the entire footballing ecosystem with their announcement on Thursday. In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed their inability to offer a new contract to keep Lionel Messi at the club owing to the financial regulations framed by La Liga.
The Catalan club stressed they were in agreement with Lionel Messi over the terms of the new contract and expressed disappointment in not seeing it materialize. Since the news broke, talks surrounding Messi's next destination have become rife on the internet.
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Considering the possibility of snapping up the legendary Argentine forward on a free transfer, several clubs are expected to be involved in the race to land him. As such, Lionel Messi is expected to be spoilt for choices when it comes to making a decision about where his future lies.
Lionel Messi could play alongside some of his old rivals after leaving Barcelona
Many clubs are being touted as the next possible destination for Messi following his Barcelona exit. If he intends to join any of these clubs, Lionel Messi is bound to become teammates with some of the fiercest rivals of his career.
On this list, we take a closer look at five such players who were direct rivals to Lionel Messi in the past but could end up being teammates with him next season.
#5 Raphael Varane (Manchester United)
Raphael Varane has yet to be officially unveiled as a Manchester United player, but imagine the Red Devils announcing a deal for Lionel Messi in the same transfer window.
It might sound unreal, but stranger things have happened in football. There is no denying the fact that Lionel Messi is easily the most sought-after player in the world, especially after leaving Barcelona. What should come as no surprise is also the fact that Premier League clubs are in a relatively better financial situation at the moment.
Although Manchester United have spent heavily on the arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Varane, the club are still one of the wealthiest and most marketable sides in the world. Considering how their fierce rivals Manchester City have also been linked with Lionel Messi, it would be nothing short of an icing on the cake if they could swoop in for the former Barcelona man.
If the deal does go through, Lionel Messi, along with Varane, could be the final piece of the puzzle that catapults Manchester United to their glory days not just in England, but in Europe too. This would have made absolutely no sense a few months back, but it does now and that's how quickly things can change in football.
#4 Thiago Silva (Chelsea, Brazil)
It is safe to say the world might not experience anything like 'La Remontada' ever again. After enduring a 4-0 loss in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash, Barcelona produced a comeback for the ages to trump Paris Saint-Germain 6-5 on aggregate.
Lionel Messi and Thiago Silva were at the heart of it all, locked in a battle to try and gain the upper hand for Barcelona and PSG respectively. Ultimately, Messi went on to celebrate what would've been one of the best ever moments of his career, while Silva resorted to lifting his teammates from a chastening experience at the hands of Barcelona.
Since the events of that night in 2017, both Silva and Messi have endured Copa America heartbreak at the hands of each other. In 2019, Silva was part of the Brazil team that emerged victorious over Argentina in the semi-final during their run to the Copa America title. However, Messi more than made amends with his success in the 2021 edition of the tournament, wherein Argentina lifted the prestigious continental trophy.
If Chelsea are eyeing launching a potential swoop to bring Messi to Stamford Bridge, Silva could end up being on the same side for a change. The Blues were close to signing Lionel Messi in the past and could be tempted to throw their name in the hat for his signature this summer.
#3 Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
Former Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi came up against Ederson as recently as last month, when Argentina and Brazil locked horns in the final of the Copa America. It was Messi who enjoyed the glory then, as Argentina went on to lift the continental trophy at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The disappointment will still be fresh in Ederson's mind, especially after he denied Messi an opportunity to find the back of the net late in the game but still ended up losing. Add that to the fact that it would've been his first ever major trophy as first-choice custodian for his country and it is self-explanatory as to why the result may have left a bad aftertaste.
But then the events from Thursday night surely have the potential to tide over that loss, especially if Messi decides to link up with Ederson and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The Premier League champions have already broken the bank for Jack Grealish and have been linked with wanting to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur.
It remains to be seen whether Messi's situation at Barcelona will force City to realign their priorities in the transfer window. If they do, Ederson could celebrate many victories together with Messi in the near future.
#2 Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi has relished his battles with Keylor Navas over the years. During Navas' time in Spain with Levante and Real Madrid, the Costa Rican endured a torrid time whenever he came up against the genius of Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
As many as 23 goals were scored by Lionel Messi in 13 appearances for Barcelona against Navas. But then it was the former Real Madrid shot-stopper who had the last laugh more recently. Now on the books at Paris Saint-Germain, Navas came up against the threat of Lionel Messi in the Champions League last season.
The Ligue 1 giants romped to a 4-1 win in the first leg after Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick at the Camp Nou. However, Barcelona were determined to force a way back in the second leg and have history over PSG in believing they could do the same.
But it was not meant to be for Lionel Messi and company, thanks to the heroics of Navas. The shot-stopper thwarted 11 attempts from Barcelona and saved a penalty from his long-time nemesis Lionel Messi to help PSG sneak a draw and progress to the quarter-finals.
Navas may fall below new-recruit Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order at PSG next season, but a reunion with Lionel Messi will be something special. Especially since they will not be out to deny each other this time around.
#1 Sergio Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain)
What a reunion this would be. For the majority of their careers, Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos have been at loggerheads on the pitch. That's what you would expect from captains at Barcelona and Real Madrid. But both of these influential figures, leaving on free transfers to the same club, would just have never been imagined before.
As it stands, Paris Saint-Germain are the hot favorites to land Lionel Messi following his exit from Barcelona. It makes sense for the Ligue 1 giants too, considering their persistent efforts in the transfer market to win the elusive Champions League crown. If Messi does put pen-to-paper on a new deal with PSG, the former Barcelona captain will have to get used to having Ramos in the same side.
For all the times they battled it out and toiled hard in Spain for supremacy, it could be poetic if Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos end up lifting the Champions League together. A gentle reminder that being open to change is the best way forward.
