FANTASTIC! Lionel Messi's comments about staying at Barcelona perfect - Steve Nicol | ESPN FC

ESPN FC's Steve Nicol, Gab Marcotti and Shaka Hislop give their takes on Lionel Messi's announcement saying he would be staying at Barcelona for at least another year. Nicol praises Messi for how the way he handled breaking the news of his stay at the Camp Nou. Marcotti sheds some light on Antoine Griezmann's situation after Ronald Koeman's comments that the Frenchman has been playing in the wrong position under previous coaches.
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[@user-et8lm4je2s]

Fantastic ya Steve......on the inside you are so happy he didn't join mancity right😂😂

[@kriz1718]

The respect for messi has only grown after all this

[@jeffdaman6969]

DIEGO F.L. Yeah. Both parties are at fault for this fiasco. Messi isn’t innocent either. He had his chance to properly leave. Shame he has his father as an agent instead of a professional.

[@jaysk2653]

@ He been wanting to leave before the 8-2 defeat. He been saying he wanted to go all year long.

[@bigboiblaze7611]

DIEGO F.L. Can’t have anything but respect for him he’s the goat

[@jaygaming8402]

@SND lol explain what makr him a clown

[@jaygaming8402]

@SND lol u srill didn't explain your point but ok then

[@TacticalManager]

Messi looked broken at the interview.

[@mariaenn]

Exactly. He may well want and try to give his best, but feeling down tends to drag your performance down whether you like or not

[@gabrielpate1583]

They need to change the back line

[@jeffdaman6969]

At the interview. At the game vs Bayern Munich. The entire season.

[@michaelc6136]

DIEGO F.L. Stfu with ur cr7 it’s not bout him here

[@ernestabor]

DIEGO F.L. He’s heartbroken because they betrayed him

[@dualx817]

He needs michael scofield to get him out

[@ionnicoara6657]

Lol Michael Scarn

[@Areyouyoung_]

😂😂😂

[@wisespiribiscuitman3825]

*Michael gayfield

[@liamkelly9437]

@@wisespiribiscuitman3825 alright mate

[@levykun9321]

Or Saul Goodman to be his lawyer

[@sudiptakumardhar]

"Assuming Dembele on the injury programme again", spot on

[@The_Bahamian_Intellectual]

Yeah it is, *assuming*

[@lorenzodeluca3661]

Now they're signing depay. Dembele will get a new companion. It'll be fun for both of them 😂😂😂

[@mustafaabdullahi5031]

Free Messi!

[@lucetothebridge]

Bart still in Camp Nou 😂 it proves he's the greatest Survivor in mankind history

[@keegannolan1820]

love the connection everyone has at ESPN FC, quality lads.

[@josemou6172]

????????

[@nazmulbhuiyan1982]

Same back 4, so its a very bad team.

[@curtischarles5299]

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED ....koeman is a defender, it is in his instinct to defend.

[@kiranraj282]

@@curtischarles5299 oh yeah, u talk like he won multiple champions league as a manager.😂😂

[@safi0163]

@@kiranraj282 no but he is a very good player even better than Ramos he was a midfield

[@kiranraj282]

@@safi0163 what does that has to do with managing a club ? Gattuso was a good player too, but he is not a good coach. Let's see

[@safi0163]

@@kiranraj282 yeah right I am just telling you that he is a good player under Cruyff like pep . So he can be good

[@akongnaga4426]

Messi need De jong, Ansu, Requi puig to get acquired pass for him I have watched many games I saw Requi Puig know Messi much more than any other players

[@TacticalManager]

Well, he was not allowed to leave. What else could he say

[@atomicbouddha7247]

He could drag FC Barcelona to the court and make things complicated or even he could win the legal battle. He is a loyal guy. That’s the point here.

[@sebastiandominguez6611]

@@atomicbouddha7247 also have to realize a court case wouldve lasted 4-6 months, during which time he wouldn’t play. So now he’ll just run down his contract, sign a pre-agreement in january and leave in the summer for free. He wont have to stop playing, and saves a legal dispute

[@niggag1052]

Am really interested to know what bartemoeu has to say about all this. After Messi decided to stay

[@Brod9320]

I remember he said around a week ago or so he’d resign if Messi publicly said he’d stay but I doubt that backstabbing joke of man will step down

[@mugambwamartin5854]

He was forced to stay, point of correction

[@philippeagogho7907]

He won't say anything he is a coward

[@Tejas-fz1fi]

He has nothing to say, he is a coward, he'll avoid any interviews from independent media outlets and just give statements to catalan media under his control, trying to make himself look like a saint.

[@gladiatorgaminginfo5053]

Bartomeu should of let Messi walk he gave everything to the club in 16 years. And next summer if everything is better invite him back to the camp nou and have a big farewell ceremony

[@alfiyantojanuar5255]

We will always love you, Leo. Wait until June 2021. Gbu

[@waqarjilani6538]

Messi the legend

[@theammadam]

Of drama and deception

[@kiranraj282]

@@theammadam if its drama, he wouldn't have said what he said. You ae a joke.

[@kiranraj282]

@ 😂😂😂 who is the coward who left Spain to Italy so that he can get away from tax fraud claims and when to a country where the taxes are really low ? 😂😂😂

[@theammadam]

@@kiranraj282 that's the climax of the drama. You need give more attention to your literature

[@honestpenaldo]

can we talk about how good portugal played today

[@mithaqali9921]

Ikr they look like they have a great team

[@honestpenaldo]

and also how garbage england were

[@TacticalManager]

Let them keep milking the Messi saga😂

[@philipmullins2028]

They played excellent, and without a proper forward, as they missed a heap of chances....cr7 would've had 3 goals tonight. Some team for the euros

[@mebrahtomgebremeskel5097]

@@honestpenaldo the most overrated and worthless national team in the world.

[@jakemackay1747]

Why is there this notion that Messi plays the way he plays and everyone else has to adapt to him, it’s the opposite Messi figures out what his team needs from him the most and he adjusts his play style to suit. Messi is the most adaptable player ever (in terms of an attacking sense).

[@abhayraj36]

He does that n he has been doing that from last few years, but sorry to say others are not adopting n matching to his marks. One need to have very sharp n intelligent footballing mind n intuition to play flawlessly. Remember it’s management which is destroying the team not the players .

[@jeffdaman6969]

Na. They have to adapt to messi. He’s the star. Teams do that for the Star.

[@jakemackay1747]

JEFFREY I agree but sadly that doesn’t happen.

[@mahasuko3315]

Its going to be really interesting to see who will get to play and who wouldnt, what the line ups and formatioon would be because its just a sqaud with scarmbled players with so many playing in the sme roll.

[@BDAShadow1]

Did we just go through a whole video where a Liverpool players was actually mentioned and Nicol didn't mention him or Liverpool at all? Wow...

[@ArtIncorporate]

Stevies the oldest but the most in sync, pragmatic and cool while he’s at it

[@sarahjessicafarter7383]

Cos shepherd's pie is brain food

[@paulmcnamara4774]

@ You are stupid Stevie is cool and was a great player in his day.

[@boo-w9h]

Did shak get a new camera? Quality looks great from his end. 👍🏼

[@Jac76906]

Yeah you're right

[@modoudiene6504]

Messi is a heart of Barcelona that cannot be transplanted.

[@florinalexa3644]

Still the defence is the same... i dont thik the attack si the problem for barcelona

[@nandagopalnaskar2452]

I haven't seen grizzy take on defenders this season. How do position has to do with it

[@edwisongogo6326]

" I can't dribble" - Griezmann

[@tslunzou6393]

Steve loves messi too much, While Messi is not happy at All, Steve is so happy for Him.

[@catemin7781]

"He's clearly an extraordinary person as well." - Agreed!

[@JP-vw6gv]

With a squad like that, the advantage is that you can substitute certain players in and completely switch up the formation and tactics, so it becomes more difficult for the other team to adapt to Barcelona’s playing style. But this will only work if the barca team master two or three different formations and are able to switch up the formation randomly during the game, leaving the opposition confused. That’s just my guess.

[@Apsori]

Defence are quite vulnerable

[@sharadmohip6536]

why is no one talking about the defense ?

[@nawafXjohn]

I gained so much respect for Messi. How can you be this humble with 10 la liga titles and 4 champions titles. My ego would be bigger than Zlatan’s.

[@sy_sohaib]

PIQUE AND LENGLET NEED REPLACING FIRST... we can not afford to not bring in atleast one elite CB

[@The_Bahamian_Intellectual]

Pique: bench player Legnet: starter Put respect on there name, they were part of the back line that tied the clean sheet record this season

[@jeffdaman6969]

Pique has been finished for years. The fact he’s still there is mind blowing

[@MrDarkparakeet]

We need to nurture la masía players not bring in new stars

[@sy_sohaib]

@@MrDarkparakeet dude.. LaMasia players would be in their teens.. maybe 20 or 21 years old some of them.. you can't win with such youth in key positions.. we have to build a team of elite players hitting their prime and then keep giving academy players minutes from time to time so they can be ready in a few seasons time

[@robzzzzzzzzzzzzzA]

They sont need replacing but they definately need like 2 more quality defenders to join them , its all about rotation and rest etc. Depending on the style its good to have options.

[@Johhn672]

Why don’t Barcelona try signing Thiago for Bayern seems like a reasonable start for the new era?

[@litukazy1132]

Why berca nt baught another defenfer like coulibaly...why....

[@regicidevideos5431]

Griezmann just isn't that good, I don't know what's so hard to see. EDIT: Just putting some perspective to this since some of you seem hurt, I've not seen any real potential in Griezmann since he left Real Sociedad, any skill he had I think left when he went to play for Atletico, I'm not one of these people that rated him as talented at Atletico, he was simply a piece of the cog. He literally does not have the skill required to be a main piece in a talented football team.

[@gideonjoseph1789]

You must have started to watch football in 2019

[@issaclukose4011]

A beast with Atléti and integral part of the French World Cup winning squad Antoine Griezzmann was a top 10 player without a doubt before his move to Barça. Obviously, he hasn’t been the same with Barça, but to act like he “just isn’t that good” is disrespectful through and through, especially since it was his first year playing in an entirely new position in a role he’s never been subjected to at his other clubs. Our fans need to put respect on his name!

[@jonathanarroyo6319]

🧢

[@tevincoley7970]

@@issaclukose4011 stop it all he did was score pens lol wasnt the main reason tbey won

[@issaclukose4011]

Tevin Coley didn’t say main, but rather integral. There’s a difference lol. He was an important player for the French National team.

[@heasgoal6249]

Thank you Steve Nicol.

[@bengiaserso9853]

Quiet good explanation all time 😊😊😊😊😊

[@harichand7263]

Agree with u sir

[@Subihabsfan]

That back 4 is a problem. It's the same back 4 so Koeman will have to fix that up if they want to succeed. Upfront I dont see issues yet until the season starts and Griezmann yet again doesn't play well. Gotta give him a shot. 1 season aint enough to judge him.

[@moistpeanut5986]

same problem with Griezman playing off the left.

[@fiftydayz9148]

"I put Depay and Wijnaldum in there cos they're new signings" -Gab Marcotti How innacurate

[@sebastiandominguez6611]

Bro we still have the same backline, were fucked

[@subinsabu3209]

Strengthen the back first front will eventually produce

[@ramjb]

There's no doubt in my mind that Messi will play his heart out this season no matter what. Whatever issues he has, he has them with an absolutely incompetent board and president, not with the club itself nor the fans. Barcelona is his home, his family loves it there (his sons really didn't want to move)...he wanted to go because, simply said, it was plain to see that the way things were being handled were atrocious and he's a competitive beast, he wants to fight for titles and with inepts like Bartomeu at the helm it's highly questionable that Barcelona will be able to compete in the CL as it should. Bartomeu is going to get (hopefully) kicked by a popular no confidence vote in the near future. The revelation of his given word to Messi that he has defaulted on has killed any respectability he might have had left, and at any rate next year he'll be out for sure. There's still hope for Messi to stay depending on how things play out this season, which moves happen, how Koeman manages the team, and who comes next into the presidency of the club. Because it's plain to see that Leo would love to stay, but will only stay if the team is competitive, and if it's managed by competent people whose word means something. It's certainly a very bad time for the club but personally I think there's time to straighten up things and to sort them out. What's for sure and what's unquestionable is that Barcelona fans are with him, that we'd have been sad to see him go, but to see him forced to stay after our club has defaulted on a given word and abused his trust so much, is much sadder. We'll always love him, be thankful for what he gave us, and be sorry for the incompetence of the management that hasn't allowed him to win even more with us... And with a bit of luck...maybe he even stays if things look promising enough. Who knows. But if he finally leaves, he'll leave with millions of fans loving him wherever he goes (as long as it's not Madrid, lol).

[@pokibeavalorant2995]

I agree with Messi they can't blame him for everything despite being high class

[@essio10]

They forgot Dembele, Coutinho, Puig and Fati in their team

[@stoneynutria5305]

If you are a good or great player you should be able to adjust

[@agustinpereira3128]

Just how different would this season have been if Barca had signed de ligt?

[@ndeshitjazamo7467]

He was poor

[@mrjeff4832]

On top of being the best player of all time, he's got a lot of class.

[@ramjb]

he's always been a top dude, in and out of the pitch. Can't fault the guy for wanting out given the disaster the management of the club has been for the last half a decade - because it's a clownfiesta that the best player ever shouldn't be forced to deal with after giving us what he has given us. and I'm a Barcelona fan since I have memory (and I'm 42 y o). He should've been given the chance to go if that was his wish (even while I'd been super sad).

[@EMOTION_INTELLIGENCE]

Big Facts Mr. NICOL 😍😍😍😍

[@kelvinotieno4381]

Kind of assuming that Dembele will be on the injury program again....😂😂😂

[@WayofWyrd]

So Steve Nicol can talk sense as long as it doesn’t include either Liverpool or UTD

[@ryuken7999]

He will play for his stats this season, not Barcelona.

[@edwisongogo6326]

He'll play for the badge.

[@curtischarles5299]

griezmann best position is as a striker. the best we saw of him at atletico was as a second striker NOT behind the striker but as part of a pair.

[@thomas-sinkala]

Why aren't you guys acknowledging the return of Countinho?

[@pastorbrightamegazo9231]

The problem with Barcelona is more of the defense. Pique is off age, and Semedo isn’t good at recovering like Puyol. The defense needs young talented players who’re quick to recover/ block the shorts.

[@yakakiyakaki]

Barca’s problem is not in attack - it’s the lack of a formidable defence that hurts them every time.

[@marcsugi]

Waiting for "THE LAST DANCE: BARCELONA". Messi vs Bartomeu almost exactly look like MJ vs Krause, the difference being Krause was really putting great pieces together to built a dynasty (as he was an ex scout) while Bartomeu ...

[@bananaspiel1850]

I wouldn’t encourage my kids to act that way.. ESPN thinks it’s good for business. Welcome Nicole...

[@arnavmishra2621]

He's saying it's a fantastic team 😂. Maybe he forgot that the same defence squad conceded 8?

[@ramjb]

the problem was not the defence (even while there are obvious issues there, it's not as terrible as people here seem to think). The problem was sitting in the bench. Nobody in the team respected Setien and for good reason. He's just not good for a club at that level. With ups and downs Valverde was always getting the best out of what he had - the way he was fired is what disgruntled everyone. It was going to be a disaster of a season since the second he was fired. And I'll have to insist, that when a team takes 8, it's not just the defence.

[@arnavmishra2621]

@@ramjb I absolutely agree. When a team takes 8, it requires 1. A strong opponent 2. A very weak defense( with no backups( 3. A slow midfield 4. An uncomfortable forward line 5. and a captain who does nothing about these all season long.

[@mandipdesigner]

Seems like "Mission Netherland" and we want "Mission Barcelona"

[@Azza.10]

Barca history comes from Dutch

[@mandipdesigner]

@@Azza.10 why all netherland player's are getting signed, history is history not future

[@Azza.10]

Mandip Singh history is the history but history can be repeated In prem arsenal spend to win, Liverpool did, United did then Chelsea now city

[@dineshchauhan1929]

What abt defense...no one is talking

[@letokim7607]

They keep mention that Grizmann is playing out of position, and he is still out of position in Gab's starting 11, and didn't Koeman said that he is going to play De Jong on his proper position? Even with that supposed new additions, we don't have anybody in midfield that can thread pass into the final 1/3. Is Pjanic going to play regista and help with playmaking, besides Messi? This team is so unbalanced.

[@safs1511]

The best forward 3 were, neymar, messi Suarez, 2 of the 3 now gone with the legend being unhappy i don't think Barcelona will ever be same force as we have seen

[@bamz1932]

SAFS has Suarez left yet?

[@mohsinali8445]

What on earth did Steve read other than the rest of the World

[@svenkatasaikalyankumar2881]

I really loved steve Nicol's Opening statements about leo. Fantastic stuff,couldn't agree more.

[@WayofWyrd]

Shaka 🤙🏽 always a good pundit

[@WayofWyrd]

This is all just conjecture as nobody has been signed

[@sashagilbertson9572]

Stevie cmon.. besides the missed penalty by Griezmann, he played well today

[@jonathanarroyo6319]

He was aight

[@simplefinance413]

What are we doing buying more attacking players. The problems are in the back more than in the frint

[@Azza.10]

You are replacing Suarez who is leaving

[@dailydoseofafrica147]

He could take some time off play golf and still get paid. But its messi he loves the fans, even after what the board is doing to him

[@TonyHavenMusic]

ESPN "this team has no strength of depth, the bench is weak, there's a major drop off" Team signs two players ESPN "how will they fit these players in, it's overloaded across the pitch, this can't work can it?" I really hate that kind of journalism

[@barryclegg9961]

As a barca fan i cant get exited bout depay /wijnaldum signings to me it feels like another sign of how far we fallen.

[@Azza.10]

Depay is exciting not so much wijnaldum but at least he can run around unlike most of their current midfielders

[@godartem4107]

I would have thought replacing Alba and Pique would be their first priority 🤦‍♂️

[@andrewgotti589]

But it was the same reason why Griezmann struggled playing wide,now they are planning on bringing another center forward and then Griezmann will struggle again smh

[@onee1even896]

I think this Saga made Messi a better player as well as better personality actually he is.

[@yasser1402]

it's soo funny that everyone is trying to find an excuses for Griezmann, and now they are gonna blame Messi for his bad performance.He is not good enough to play for Barcelona as simple as that. Either he ups his game or find himself a comfortable chair behind the coach

[@rawking3084]

This team will be called, Barsaholander

[@kwamenkrumah2224]

That old woman Gab don't know Coutinho has officially back. What he knows better is player power

[@RollieUK]

As a Liverpool fan, I'm absolutely delighted he's staying at Barca and not joining City. Best news.

[@johnmalone1713]

He be joining city still just be in a year maybe sooner if barca decide they need some cash in january when he can sign a pre contract with city if not city get him free 😂😂😂😂😂

[@classicrohanmanchesterunit8769]

I knew Lionel Messi would be staying at Barcelona despite he wanted to leave after that defeat against Bayern Munich

[@SiddharthVaz]

Stevie too has bought into Messi's PR campaign.

[@kevint4673]

Fati Grizzy Dembele Messi/Cout FDJ/Busq. Pjanic/Puig/Ginie Same back 5 All out attack

[@yadavcoolboy]

No more injuries for barca now

[@khushaljain830]

Dembele is our second best attacker.

[@82ankurverma]

Depay and Winjaldum ?? You must be joking....Messi will holding his head in disbelief...

[@raghavparihar6272]

What about Martin Braithwaite. Will he get his No.10 jersey😂

[@iAiannn]

4-2-3-1 is the formation. Griezman or Depay up front. Fati Messi Dembele behind FDJ Pjanic double pivot. Defense is "God will help us"

[@mealso5391]

Yeah, ah the defence is the same as was in 8 - 2 loss to BM.... not a Very Good Team.... put some young defenders in that d..pique/alba off the bench and semedo is nothing special...

[@semirkoklu4447]

Barça's main problem is at the defence and specially Pique ...

[@pablosamanez4132]

Rather use Coutinho than Wijnaldum

[@mohitanand7191]

That team shown was not good for Barca. Once again grizmann is out of position, lack of actual wingers which means no width with that and most of all, the defenders. That was our main problem, no young blood. No energy with that team, where’s the emphasis on youth?

[@jeffdaman6969]

Crazy right? Considering they use to have some of the best coming out of their youth academy

[@stoneynutria5305]

When Griezmann left Athletico Madrid didn't you all know that he would struggle at Barcelona as long as Messi was still playing?

[@joydeepsingh1681]

Surprising how no one is talking about that awful back line, especially Pique and Semedo!!

[@soeradjnarain341]

Todibo should replace Pique..the time has come

[@zakiyare6174]

Messi is not ignorant and he knew LaLiga, Barca will reject and he is happy getting 100m a year lol

[@krys8494]

Zaki Yare he will have gotten more in city you tool

[@zakiyare6174]

@@krys8494 Oil City will not pay Messi a 70 million LOYALTY BONUSES every year like Barca so keep dreaming

[@johnmalone1713]

1st january he sign pre contract with city 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@pipibrasci823]

Barca players are a gang of frustrators. Same way they frustrated couthinho. Rememebr how coutinho came into barca and started outshining? Same way Griezmann is being frustrated at the moment. Barca needs a overhaul. Suarez and co should leave. Messi can stay if he so wish

[@jeffdaman6969]

Well it’s happening. All these old guys are leaving.

[@andrewmller6027]

Messi dont want to stay, he is forced to stay by the club President

[@pipibrasci823]

@Bruno Tomé really? im sure he spearheaded it

[@AlexeiRamotar]

Coutinho couldn't even get on the starting lineup at Bajern. Suarez, last season had the second best goals per minutes after only Messi. Now that Depay is coming in you have Coutinho, Depay, Messi and Griezmann who all play in the same area. Now to force them into the team you will limit minutes for Fati and Puig. It's the continued idiotic transfer policy.

[@user-fm9gr6jb6e]

I’m pretty sure Messi has a share in this channel

[@gagzman1]

You want them to bash him? Do you have a reason to bash messi?

[@milanshrestha9002]

Leo can play with any position.just they need grizzy to play in natural position

[@shaykayback]

Depay is a pretty shitty signing. Just sign a central defender who is physically strong.

[@aashui9605]

Messi’s halo, don’t say you are Ronaldo’s good friend, only God is Messi’s good friend

[@Truebro79]

They should get a new left winger and play greizmann upfront