IT WAS BETRAYAL! ESPN FC spars over Lionel Messi staying at Barcelona | ESPN FC

Lionel Messi’s desire to leave FC Barcelona has been the story rocking the sports world for a week, only to fizzle out when Messi announced he would honor his contract. Is he doing so begrudgingly, as he implied Friday, or was this his plan all along? This burning question leads to a rather loud debate on ESPN, where Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and Dan Thomas can’t believe Don Hutchison thinks staying at Barca is what Messi wanted from the start. Burley sounds off at multiple points during the discussion about what he sees as a massive betrayal by Barcelona against the greatest player in the club’s history.
#ESPNFC #Barcelona #LaLiga #ChampionsLeague #LionelMessi
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[@SnapMonster8]

Can't wait for El Clasico, Messi vs Bale playing golf together 😂

[@topgamer2943]

😂😂😂

[@Dani-lk3ed]

😁😁

[@arijitdey7008]

🤣😂🤣🤣

[@1brogadd510]

Messi will be playing tennis 😂😂😂

[@agathabrowne]

💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@thomasstirewalt5557]

Wow. When Craig Burley has the intelligent opinion...... Never thought I’d see the day

[@mstfislam]

Wow what a comment by craig unfortunate..didnt u see how outspoken messi was against Batameu. What else he could say. Craig r u upset as it didnt go to legal. Come on craig grow up..

[@worldisfilledb]

You’re not bright I take it

[@worldisfilledb]

rabiul islam wow really? You really can’t interpret things can you haha

[@blackmantis3130]

Wait till Steve nicol comes up with one

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

He often does. I like his way of telling it like it is. He couldn't be more right on this one. Don has fallen off the earth, which is flat.

[@stazi7532]

Bartomeu is the biggest clown in Presidential history.

[@akashbhadouria6727]

You're. Bartemou did nothing wrong

[@Sakazuki147]

@@akashbhadouria6727 xDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[@WelcomeFellow]

A clown is used to be funny, he is just a person with bad character.

[@leehenry5764]

Can't just blame him he has spent a fortune.

[@yankiefrenz1367]

@@akashbhadouria6727 excatly Barça fans are just looking for excuses.

[@MatteoSimeone22]

Messi is a nice guy. He was decent enough not to quit in June. He is decent enough not to go to court.

[@BurtonRdForever]

He didn't give them notice in June because City hadn't had their Champions League ban overturned. That didn't happen until july 11. He wouldn't go to City if they weren't in the champions league

[@Shodeh03]

@@BurtonRdForever yeah because City is the only club that he would want to join? mate, if Messi wants to be somewhere, he will be there.

[@mad234luiz]

Just so happens messi has ties to man city with ucl winning coach, and bestfreind aguero that just happens to have number 10 lol only other club i see messi joining is juve or psg

[@christophermartinez2608]

@ the 700 million is his release clause that he would have to pay if he wanted to leave Barcelona right now. Its not the price he would have to pay if he lost in court your idiot.

[@antiwokehuman]

@@christophermartinez2608 that guy is obviously stupid who has no idea how transfers work. don't waste your time arguing with him

[@joshbetancourt344]

Im glad that messi is staying so that way barça doesn't get a dime when he parts ways.

[@josephpedraza1995]

Josh Betancourt same next season he should leave as soon as he can, it’s just ridiculous this club

[@jinsimpfor2878]

He's obviously gonna retire next season

[@ivansolorio92]

@4th Genna - Rayan Cherki The GOAT take out LC and put a club that relevant to the level of Barcelona. As it stands, your statement is invalid.

[@nicholasgakuu5223]

@4th Genna - Rayan Cherki The GOAT tottenham and chelsea were put aside like nothing by bayern..leipzig leverkusen monchengladbach and dortmund put a far better performance against bayern...so dont come here and talk about quality we all know apart from city and liverpool there was nothing else last season...and city still underperformed got washed by lyon.

[@backwards9772]

@4th Genna - Rayan Cherki The GOAT Epl isn't even as good as you think. Look at the UCL and Europa League winners of the past decade. Sums it all up for the EPL, Liverpool won it last season got clapped by Atletico this season, former EPL Champions clapped by none other than Lyon. EPL IS AS GOOD AS YOU THINK RIGHT !

[@just_one_step]

After seeing this video.. I'm like who is more clueless bartomeu or don?!

[@nygiantsfan84]

Right 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@agathabrowne]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@princenkansah5966]

🤣🤣😂😂😂

[@Eyeyorot]

😅😭😂😂😂😂

[@johnkunho776]

You mean vs all of them, how they got hired? Why they are so clueless

[@aditya8778]

Barca did same to Arthur Forced him out of the squad

[@erenyeager-xc6yb]

ys uchiha sasuke

[@jessejames9149]

Fatcs!!!!!!

[@gvnady8380]

Dont forget Suarez to Juve too

[@omarc1419]

Eto you mean?

[@ainanzahid4481]

you know why they did that? bartameu had to sell money to get out of loss. it's like every season if you lose any money with unconventional deals you as the president have to pay that amount. so they sold Arthur at the last day of the season to balance the money, so bartameu didn't have to pay the money but they bought pjanic the next day (because juve were not accepting Arthur without selling pjanic) so they started the seasons first day with 70m down (technically the season wasn't over yet, ucl still was being played but the dates were fixed on the agreement on when the season ended) . he's a disgrace. and he's not resigning cause he has to pay 888m dollar debt of Barcelona(not sure about the amount tho)

[@orienbharath1641]

Looks like Don is Bartomeu's right hand man.

[@wagucu]

😆😆😆

[@unclejollof4194]

Messi is unloyal

[@christophermartinez2608]

@@unclejollof4194 no he isnt hes won everything for barca and stayed when he could have left whenever he wanted years ago

[@imgettingold9407]

He proved he might be a bigger idiot

[@unclejollof4194]

@@christophermartinez2608 he wants to leave just cus he lost

[@jeevanthomas8095]

As much as barca fans make jokes about florentino Perez they wish they had a president Like him.

[@karun4776]

Yes. And I'm a barca fan.

[@EdmondDantes_64]

True a Visionary

[@RaulEdu33]

💯👌🎯

[@sumzk]

Papa Perez is really good, 1000x better than Ratomeu, I'd want someone like him at Barcelona

[@marcsugi]

No. We had better before like Laporta, Nunez (I bet you were not fan yet back then). Perez is pure capitalist businessman like Rosell (Bartomeu old pal)

[@ShorabHossain]

I’m with Craig on this one. This is the biggest betrayal by Barcelona and Bartemeou. Denying Messi’s desire to compete elsewhere at the end point of his career. What more could you ask from messi after all that he has done for the club. Utter disgrace. This puts a bad taste in Messi’s saga.

[@uchibenkei]

i agree with you. why would barca do this? because they are that desperate. they're broke and only bringing in young stars for a rebuild now. they failed to have any succession plan.

[@saptakbardhan3337]

"Mes Que un Club" is now a joke under Josep Maria Bartomeu. I hope he leaves as soon as possible.

[@jacobcirrus]

More like Med Que un Circus

[@manniking233]

Once the UNICEF sponsorship went, so did the soul of the club...

[@baruch7527]

Are you a Barca fan or a Messi fanboy?

[@saptakbardhan3337]

@@baruch7527 Barca fan through and through

[@TheJorge676]

I’m glad Craig told Don he’s wrong...now we need him to go for Gav

[@pecklehead]

Don wasn't wrong

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

@@pecklehead Pecklehead, I'd say Dunderhead. Don was very wrong.

[@KarlOmatsola]

Craig is 100% correct!

[@abg6461]

Yes!!!one of those rare occasions!!!😂

[@MarcoSteezy]

AB G like when he predicted juve would beat atletico Madrid in the UCL bc of Ronaldo lol

[@Kevon420]

As usual!!!

[@bionicle37]

Maybe the first time in his lifetime

[@bionicle37]

@Odin Son he was right in saying that he will have zo carry the team once again and that won't end well. He was great individually this season but the team was horrible

[@nathanedouard9291]

Shaka just chilling watching dumbo Hutchinson 😂😂😂

[@michaelosadebe6418]

I do t think so bro, I think Hutchinson is right because Messi was so emotional on his interview, He looks like he does not want to move because of his family, He would have challenge his rights at the court. Shaka is just not good at argument

[@mystteek1777]

@@michaelosadebe6418 learn to use your brain before you speak. Had he gone to court he'd have had to miss a season or a half season at least as the court case would have taken time. But to people like you who just love to talk you think that they'd have gotten an early court case and case dealt with before the transfer window closed right.

[@mylkme]

But still then Shaka the Shakira of Pele , is even dumber than a lamb .

[@imgettingold9407]

@@michaelosadebe6418 i am shocked to know that there are other people like don in the world.... a year long court battle would have dragged messi and the club through the mud... can you imagine barcelona playing a match and the media ignoring it to talk about a case update betweén therr best player ever and the board? The damage it would have to the fans and brand in general? Not to mention messi's standinh with the fans

[@jamesmacariola7053]

Shaka just laughing in the background embodies how I feel whenever I see them argue on this show

[@jahazielrameshwar561]

He is a true trinidadian😂

[@paulowen1085]

Haha he's great

[@danielross4242]

Jahaziel Rameshwar 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@carlosthebee3527]

best Craig intervention ever. 100% agree with him.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

Me too. He knows injustice when he sees it.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

I don't understand the pple who don't see it. This is an example of the worst kind of egregious, underhanded, almost criminal treatment I've seen.

[@thomasm5799]

Watching Shakas face during this was fantastic.

[@imgettingold9407]

He was enjoying the utterings of an idiot

[@robdatta8767]

You can replace him with any stuffed toy grinning ear-to-ear like an idiot, or a soundtrack of arbitrary noises.. He contributes nothing else!

[@nylefarooqui8854]

😂🙌🏽 It always is in every video.

[@psulionz87]

@@imgettingold9407 Shaka too is an idiot - all clowns

[@ThatdudeSA]

@@psulionz87 Oh my pained Messi fans

[@scjester9]

Is Don clueless, he went on for about 2 minutes about how Barcelona are still in good shape because they have players like Fati, Griezmann, Coutinho, and Dembele. Does he not know that the club has had those same players just these past couple of seasons? The same seasons that made Messi so miserable that he wanted to leave in the first place.

[@qouta1456]

This was Fati’s first season. The formation screwed over Griezmann. They tried to play him behind Suarez. While coutinho had to adapt to messi’s play style because they both like to control the tempo. Dembele is always injured. Formation is key.

[@asianpablo1574]

Makaseru • not really the players just suck but that might be because the team is centered around Messi and players like Griezmann aren’t used to it

[@J.H.S.H]

Don is useless. How on earth is he reading this situation?

[@rtgtx]

The problem was these good players didn't get utilized well. Hope they get their chances in the new season.

[@rtgtx]

@@asianpablo1574 The club politics sucks not the players. Messi is part of the politics.

[@bimb836]

He is saying the truth. Messi fans would have been happy for messi if he wanted to leave it was the best for him

[@terminatorxxx4910]

Yesss

[@superjervis]

true

[@bimb836]

SaM - TheKing we will

[@superjervis]

@SaM - TheKing That's because of the last minute pointless signings...the management of Barca is a joke

[@RayadosDeSiempre]

SaM - TheKing Once you pick a club you stay with that club for ever, love the club not the players

[@legendemperor9150]

Lionel Messi to @goal: "I wasn't happy and I wanted to leave. I have not been allowed this in any way and I will STAY at the club so as not to get into a legal dispute. The management of the club led by Bartomeu is a disaster" “I'll continue at Barcelona and my attitude won't change, no matter how much I have wanted to go. “I told the club & the president that I wanted to go. I've been telling him all year. "I thought my time in Barcelona was over, sadly - I always wanted to finish my career here." Messi: "I would never go for a trial against the club of my life. Hence, I'm staying." ❗Messi: "The truth is that there is no project at this club. They just plug holes as and when things happen." Messi: “I always said I wanted to end here and I always said that I wanted to stay here. That I wanted a winning project and win titles with the club to continue expanding the legend of Barcelona. The truth is there has been no project or nothing for a long time” Lionel Messi: "I told to the club, to the president in particular, that I wanted to leave. They know this since the start of the past season. I told them during all last 12 months. But I will stay here because I don't want to start a legal war". 🚨 Messi to Goal: “I told the club, especially the president, that I wanted to go. I've been telling him all year. I believed it was time to step aside. I believed that the club needed more young people, new people and I thought my time in Barcelona was over” Messi: “The president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not. Now they hold on to the fact that I did not say it before June 10 when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for the league in the middle of this shitty virus”. 🎙 Messi: "But I looked further afield and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League. You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete." Messi: "The burofax was an official way of telling the club about my intentions. I want to fullfil my new challenges & dreams." 🎙 Messi: "Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season." 💬 Messi: "I never felt alone. Those who are always have been by my side. But I did feel hurt by things that I heard from people, from media. It hurt me when my love for this club was questioned. No matter how much I go or stay, my love for Barça will never change." Messi: "I will continue playing like I do. My attitude will not change. I always want the best for the club & the locker room." 🎙 Messi: "Barca gave me everything and I gave it everything. I know that it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court.” Messi: "When I told my wife about my intentions, there was brutal drama. Kids started crying because they didn't want to leave." 🎙Messi: "He cried to me and said ‘let's not go’. I repeat that it was hard, really. It was understandable. It happened to me. It is very difficult to make a decision." Messi: “I said that it wasn't enough for us to win the Champions League. Actually, now I don't know what will happen. There is a new coach and a new idea. That's good, but then we have to see how the team responds and if it will give us or not to compete." 💬 Messi: "Now I will stay because Bartomeu told me that the only way to leave was if the 700M buyout fee was paid. I would never go to court against Barça because it is the club that I love, that gave me everything since I arrived, it is the club of my life." 🎙 Messi: “I love Barcelona and I'm not going to find a better place than here anywhere. Still, I have the right to decide. I was going to look for new goals and new challenges. And tomorrow I could go back, because here in Barcelona I have everything." 🎙 Messi: "My son, my family, they grew up here and are from here. There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave. I needed it, the club needed it and it was good for everyone." 💬 Messi: "It hurt me a lot that things are published against me and above all, that false things are published. Or that they came to think that I could go to trial against Barça in order to benefit. I would never do such a thing. I wanted to leave and it was my right." “Barcelona is my life, they have brought me to where I am today, I could not leave, I don’t want to leave. My heart stays with Barcelona.” 💬 Messi: "Now I don't know what will happen. There is a new coach and a new idea. That's good, but then we have to see how the team responds and if it will give us or not to compete." 🗣 - Messi: "It doesn't matter when I leave or for how long I stay; my love for Barça is everlasting."

[@squidward6317]

Legend Emperor that’s for real crazy bro now show me someone who asked

[@Anonymous-pu7cq]

Copied form one football

[@elmerr2123]

Don immediately after : So messi clearly wants to sign a new 5 year contract

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

Messi is nobility itself. The way he handles this horrible situation is pure class. He's not only the greatest player of all time, but he's also a great man.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

OK haters. Take a gander at that and say Messi is at fault or he's a crybaby. On the contrary he is a saint.

[@AS-nx9fu]

I swear even after watching messis interview there are people who's still hating on him.. It's ridiculous the amount of hate Messi gets

[@josesaenz5403]

And it makes no sense why. The guy literally can’t win. He stays he gets criticized, he wants to leave he gets criticized, the guy stays humble and just tries to play his game but there’s always those haters that just love to hate

[@RMChEa]

that is the unfortunate reality you live in when you are the best at what you do. all the sore idiotic losers around the world unleash their frustrations and self-hatred on you. remember that when you hate someone all you really hate is what you see in that person that you also see in yourself.

[@crisnkayilu6310]

@@josesaenz5403 crazy man

[@mrkonik6967]

being the best is hard

[@dammitimmad9121]

How about switching your brain on?! Messi has been in conflict with Bartomeu throughout the year and you're telling me that he'll rely on a promise made by Bartomeu instead of activating his release clause, knowing that the latter is a crook?! Well it doesn't make sense. They're both lying. Stop acting like Messi is perfect, he's not. The guy gets a pay raise every season, knowing the financial struggle of his club. Try to find out why Guardiola left Barça. He's a little dictator pretending to be a saint. He also retired from Argentina and came back. Everyone seem to be wrong, except from him. Yeah right. Well he managed to fool people like you.

[@kevint4673]

Don: "I bet you now that Messi signs a new contract" Craig: "Who cares" 💀💀💀💀

[@malotielemans3863]

killed me (Don is an absolute parody what an idiot)

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

@@malotielemans3863 Exactly. How can he be on a show like this?

[@KarlOmatsola]

Don...trying to spin...its laughable...he lives under a rock!

[@redsnapper1759]

What if barcelona wins the treble ?

[@sowae5361]

@@redsnapper1759 I'd 8-2 see that. 😆😂😂

[@Soccerguyz]

@@redsnapper1759 lmaf

[@mohammedkhasimkunnilshafi6664]

First time I'm going completely in acceptance with Craig.. absolutely on point..

[@sele6086]

Lazy punditry from Don. He really didn’t do any research did he

[@cupperdigger3494]

you should watch the video where he predicted city's line up against Real Madrid and put a player who was suspended !

[@mohammedkhasimkunnilshafi6664]

Messi is either going to remove his frustration on every opposition or he is going to show Barca if he don't play at his best the team is nothing.. Since messi hates these kinda mental stress he is going to stay low..

[@stedros]

He should take time off due to the mental stress lol. Unable to play due to mental health issues. That would screw Barca completely

[@mohammedkhasimkunnilshafi6664]

@@stedros Barca (management) should be badly punished for this behavior...

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

@@mohammedkhasimkunnilshafi6664 Barto was arrested.

[@RLivingston-tw9jp]

Craig comes to his senses, finally did his research.

[@coachhbosoccer]

ridiculous. Messi has earned the right to leave when he chooses.

[@HumanBeingsRThinkingBeings]

Sky Sports: HEATED ESPN FC: SPAR The Desperation 😂😂

[@preciousadedibu1821]

I blame Gab for putting the powerplay idea in don's head. He's usually reasonable.

[@jeffdaman6969]

Gabs a moron

[@essio10]

@@jeffdaman6969 I second that

[@victoriabanda2595]

Today he has totally lost his reasoning ..honestly Don u think messi would put his family thru this so he could flex his muscles ...disappointing

[@kicapanmanis1060]

@@jeffdaman6969 If Gabs is a moron, then you must be the worst idiot ever then.

[@imgettingold9407]

It was a shocking contribution from him

[@richardjowi7561]

Shaka having the time of his life 🤣😂🤣

[@jahazielrameshwar561]

That's what we Trini's do😂just laugh at the madness

[@kevjames4236]

Shaka is a legend just laughing and smiling the whole time 💎😆

[@adismith13]

I love how Shaka was watching them and laughing, being stoned it was difficult to keep a straight face I think 🤣🤣🤣

[@saqibu5]

Messi at 33 - Barca Messi at 34 - Man city or PSG or any team in Europe. Barca board losing the best legend ever 100 MM in salary lost. Transfer fee. Trust broken Unhappy player in the dressing room.

[@Zenapprentice]

He’s too old by then. I doubt he’ll actually have an impact unlike CR7. He actually stays fit and is still a beast with his speed and technique.

[@essio10]

@@Zenapprentice stfu

[@cameronauguste9100]

Ronaldo didn’t really impact Juventus. They made it to the Champions league final twice without him. They’ve been the best Italian team in the league without him.

[@Zenapprentice]

Cameron Auguste you really can’t judge him on this season though because of the covid. It threw everyone’s game off and with out the crowd, made a huge impact. Especially Ronaldo. He plays with the atmosphere

[@thesneakygamer4343]

Lil Boba Messi is still very fit, no unfit player can produce the numbers he does, not at this level.

[@edmilsonrodrigues5393]

Shaka has the most fun on this show. He just sit back and laugh 😂

[@enmokunay]

shaka is having the time of his life just sitting there 🤣

[@squidstone8399]

Messi really is a legend. Dude earns million a week,still stays humble.

[@kicapanmanis1060]

So humble he likes to snipe at his employers!

[@nzrlatff4833]

In group discussion. I'm shaka

[@mohit4679]

Espn should fire don hutchison clueless about barca

[@ngayaipam5933]

ESPN Chanel you always talking about nonsense.

[@princemanish07]

Craig is exactly right. Finally somebody on ESPN sees light. FINALLY. Thank you Craig

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

Yes, thank you. Actually, Craig's my favourite altho he does get it wrong now and then. Which one of us doesn't.

[@tmmalejoane9586]

Goodness me, I don't think Craig can make the point any clearer to Don. Fact is, Barcelona, i.e. the president and the board, betrayed Messi because they knew his wish was to leave the club and yet they made it absolutely hard for him to do so by pulling the 'buyout clause' on him knowing good and well that he wouldn't want to take them to court seeing as he loves and respects the club that much. Ronaldo's buyout clause at RM was 1B, but they lowered it to 100m to make it easier for other teams to buy him, thats the courtesy the club made for a player who had given them so much over the years. Barca have honestly failed a player who has given them possibly his best years of football and won them trophies they had no right to winning considering the decline they have been in over the years. If we talk about a player carrying an entire teams success on its shoulders, Lionel Messi comes to mind. I believe whats gonna happen now is, whatever Messi does is gonna be put under a microscope and should he perform badly, even though he himself said that he ALWAYS GIVES HIS ALL IRRESPECTIVE, they're gonna pin it on the fact that he never wanted to stay in the first place. Footballs biggest tragedy awaits the entire footballing community as we witness one of the greatest of all time bow out from football in the worst possible way.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

i agree. I'm from the future. He was forced out and had to play with PSG who treated him abominably. The greatest player and the greatest character in sports has been treated disgracefully. Yet it showed his incredible endurance and unreal character. IMO he's nothing less than a saint. He conducted himself with nobility.

[@baldcamel1534]

Don saying "Messi's been unhappy for 2 years".... try 4 years😂😅

[@neurophilosophers994]

Can you guy’s edit Don’s part out? It’s just so refreshing to finally hear someone defend Messi when he’s clearly in the right

[@drmdmd1]

We ll see how much his kids cry next year when he leaves.

[@unclejollof4194]

drmdmd1 he is unloyal

[@tomv6534]

@@unclejollof4194 serving over 2 decade to a club. How can u say him disloyal? He should have leave barca 3 years ago. This is modern era. A player is playing for a club for 10 years is rare.

[@unclejollof4194]

@@tomv6534 yes cause he wants to leave when they lose and are at there worst state

[@calixvss]

DON IS AN OPP

[@gwillya7656]

"Messi will demand the best!" This morning barca agree deal for depay 😂😂😂 you can't make this up

[@redsnapper1759]

Depay is a super player

[@throwingdartsandbreakinghearts]

Depay will be the new Malcom

[@neikomccalla2623]

I think The President just sold Messi the Idea that he could leave to keep him happy... Messi did not think about the contract in its entirety just the word of the President so he wasn’t expecting all this resistance..... So sad but Messi soul is stuck in Barca and he cannot leave

[@jeffdaman6969]

And that is why messi should have had a professional agent handling important matters with the club while he was focused on football on the pitch. Messi should have never allowed his moronic father to act on his behalf.

[@relaxinghealingrain9075]

Neiko McCalla You are missing something bro. Messi knew that if he take this issue to the court he will eventually win the case. Messi just don’t want to leave by allowing this whole court situation on his resume or character

[@neikomccalla2623]

Jason Morgan as I’ve heard a Pundit said it would take couple of Months to be resolved and that would be a waste of time at his age.... And it’s kind of embarrassing no matter who wins

[@jeffdaman6969]

Jason Morgan Messi isn’t winning that case. Not only does he have to deal with Barcelona but La Liga also backed Barcelona. The date to be released was before June. He asked to be released late August.

[@raikva6971]

@@jeffdaman6969 It is for FIFA to decide not LaLiga. And if they decide then he can walk away and keep playing while having court cases going on with Barca and La Liga. That is what he does not want (understandably so). He has gone through court cases in Spain before and they are not pretty.

[@jinitthakkar1375]

After a rough day and being a Barça fan, watching don speaking is more entertaining than a ‘FRIENDS’ episode😂😂😂😂

[@MaxxEzzy]

Don is the worst pundit in ESPN FC, I'll take you on that bet if Messi signs a new contract before summer of next year

[@annebledel9327]

Seriously i dont know but im crying thinking about his interview again.

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

I cried at his interview too. Messi is a saint.

[@hankstorm3135]

Respect to Craig for once! well spoken!

[@roniieeem5031]

1) You wouldn't expect your family members to betray you after living together for a lifetime (20 years in sports is a lifetime) 2) He always intended to finish his career here, before this year. Who would think one day Messi would need a lawyer-agent to fight Barcelona 3) There's no way a player, let alone club captain, could put in a transfer request before June 10 in this season's scenario. Nothing an agent could have done as well

[@carefreeblues25]

In 4 months time Messi will be free to speak to other clubs to sign a pre contract and there's nothing Barca could do about it by then. If they are smart, they would sell him for €100m this season and reinvest the money on younger talent. But judging on how they spent the Neymar money, their record does not bode well.

[@akhilchauhan6331]

This is the perfect explanation by Craig

[@mancityscot7172]

what planet is Don on , clearly not the same one as the rest of us

[@vikrantrameshchandsharma]

The host TBH looks like a kid. "he has to stay he has to stay"

[@olivierwesterheide881]

That’s what happens when you let family negotiate on your behalf instead of a professional

[@kaz2499]

Professionals can be quite manipulative. There are stories of agents not letting their players know that a team wants them, etc. The trade off is essentially more experience/professionalism in place of trust you get from having a family member fighting for your interests.

[@footballgeorgiebest]

Messi deserves the choice to leave or stay after everything he has given to Barca. The president just didn’t want him to leave on his watch imo.

[@kicapanmanis1060]

He had the choice, he didnt take it.

[@adnanmohamed1479]

Bartomeu out

[@matthewgorking2392]

OMG Don is utterly clueless! What a disaster for ESPN.

[@sharjesm]

Don is absolutely off here. Almost feels like he is being forced to make the "power play" point. So disappointing to see him talk like a complete fool about this matter. His arguments go around in circles.

[@mazzz44]

This video is absolutely great. Love the passion

[@agnivbiswas4357]

Hope Messi wins a trophy before he leaves Next season ..not another Trophy less Season !!

[@theunknown4753]

Copa del Rey

[@theunknown4753]

Spanish super cup

[@yankiefrenz1367]

Copa del rey

[@agnivbiswas4357]

@@theunknown4753 not this season as they didn't won anything this year

[@Joel-mh3cn]

@4th Genna - Rayan Cherki The GOAT oh my god ur blaming chelseaosing to bayern 7-1 on match schedule. Get out plus this is irrelevant to the topic

[@eddiea9658]

This is the same player who retired from Argentina after they lost to Chile in 2016.

[@vinnyseurattan5469]

Don don't understand the point that Messi tried to make 😂🤣😂🤣

[@gauravyengera3502]

Craig Burley is spot on. By not allowing Messi to take up a new challenge at this stage of his career where each year matters, FC Barcelona have robbed all football fans of witnessing his talents extend its influence on the sport in another league. It is a betrayal of the player and football itself.

[@nvmerouno]

I can’t believe that with the facts available, this bell end is out here saying this was a power play.

[@shivaranabhat5499]

"Positive... They have fati, griezmann, coutinho, dembelle" >> dembelle will be in hospital, griezmann utterly useless (most he'll do is occupy messi's space & steal goals), €140m coutinho who was not a starter for bayern & the club brings pijanic for arthur, wijnaldum for thiago.. as a cherry top

[@rohitbhojwani1411]

Hutchison hasn't seen the interview properly or is dumb, it wasn't a powerplay, he said he still wants to leave even though his family felt bad about it

[@boring3197]

Why don is on the show if he is that clueless.

[@heberbibang9580]

Craig's arguments were the best and spoke volume 👏👏👏

[@ademolaafolabi9236]

I'm happy to hear that but, they should allow him to go to wherever he want to go next season. He has tried enough for us.

[@hongamskelly4471]

Messi has given more then any other player to thier club he has 3 continous 3 champions leaque failures as a Barca fan n as a messi fan I want to c him complete in his highest level n dats not gonna happen in Barca rite now

[@someshsingh9171]

Ok so why did u not protest against messi in camp nou. So that may be ur bartemou hear that u dumb😂😂😂😂

[@EpicVideoMaster11]

Somesh Singh Why would we protest Messi when the board is who does recruitment, management, and signings

[@hongamskelly4471]

@@someshsingh9171 messi is messi he has given his absolute best to Barca how many years do u think he can play at his top lvl I want him to win tropies not save and die for a club dats rebuilding rite now he has done everything for this club so if he wants to leave he sud leave n if he leaves 'THUNDER AND RAIN STORM WITH WIND' made up of penaldos fan tears u will c I promise

[@deepakrai3495]

Yeah maybe pique, busquets play basketball for Barcelona such a Messi fanboy try to see their are other players in the world as well and which are equally important for their teams.

[@ricardas16]

@SaM - TheKing well, city wants him for free. that's the problem. barca can't loose messi for free.

[@takudzwashayamapiki4271]

Craig at the end: “Don I don’t agree” 😪 😂😂😂

[@vikranthm4251]

Each time Espn says Messi the best player in the world Ronaldo fans be like : WTH . WHY ARE WE ALIVE 😂

[@vidyarajendravarman1405]

😂😂😂😂

[@mealso5391]

Ronaldo isn't even the best player in seria A...Ciro Immobile....

[@55yroldlawyer-fan10]

Don Hutchison totally misunderstood Messi's statement. Messi said that his family was against the transfer but looking afield he wants to enjoy playing in a competitive team. In other words, despite his family's apprehensions, Messi decided to leave and transfer to another club to which he was very thankful for Antonella to still support his decision. This Don hutchison has lost his credibility ( he parotted Bartomeu's propaganda that Messi is making a power play) and is being viewed now as a paid hack (in secret) of big clubs such as Barcelona.

[@sharkyh7327]

It’s natural for the family to have this kind of situation, I doubt Messi so dense that he didn’t know or predict that type of reaction from them and then that subsequently reversed his decision. That seems very, very weird

[@55yroldlawyer-fan10]

@@sharkyh7327 Messi just would tell his family they will stay in Barcelona just one more year, give them time to arrange their affairs and then leave Barcelona after one year.

[@sharkyh7327]

55 yr old Lawyer-fan You can’t fault his family, whole life in Barca, their dad/husband is Barcelona, they would feel entrenched/woven like Barcelona is their family, so I would expect that kind of reaction. Going to England if that was the destination, it’s a change but don is almost saying THAT was the reason and the whole poweplsy thing makes sense with this situation, bartomeu essentially goes in March, Messi and most of Barca have disdain for that man, their is no real power struggle for support in this situation, in fact I have seen Barca fans saying “let Messi go” and he’s the best player in history but due to bartomeu’s stupidly and mismanagement they would be ok with Messi leaving, on top that people aren’t stupid, Messi is 33, why not get 100 mil plus 2 couple of players and some money off wages and allow the team to have new style and start the rebuilding process which is bound to happen in 2-3 years anyway. Though, a part would feel strange no fans for Messi last game even if their is a testimonial etc, that thought was very jarring for a guy who love Barca/ fans and vice verse and the greatest player in their history not to get the farewell that a iniesta/xavi even guardiola got.

[@55yroldlawyer-fan10]

@@sharkyh7327 I believe it is not power play. That theory is nonsense. I believe that Messi just want to take advantage of his last few years competing in the biggest games and enjoying it. The family will have to understand that that is his profession. Once he hangs his boots, then they wont have to undergo transferring residences. That is why Messi has already set his mind to transfer and be happy. Antonella understands it because Messi deserves his happiness he being the best player in the world ever.

[@karthikmabbu]

Craig is absolutely right!!

[@manavmehta7907]

We don’t deserve him, we must just let him go.

[@theunknown4753]

Thanks Messi for entertaining us for the past ten days

[@kicapanmanis1060]

Agreed, it was really fun saga to watch.

[@markcorde9121]

I don't know man, Messi is the best pay player in Football and always is complaining about the team, I think he need to man up

[@iyoob8134]

im dying i acc love shaka the other two getting at each other's throats and hes just there laughing

[@lamontbeadle8281]

These jokers constantly saying Messi is the best player in the world of all time won't make it true.

[@princenkansah5966]

Craig speaking factssss

[@nxchvx5948]

Coming back to this video again after the news of Messi and Barcelona parted their ways.

[@lolnty7408]

What Barca fans fail to realize is that as long as Messi is in the club the club will fail and not change, it doesn’t matter who’s president. Their priority is gonna be to keep Leo happy and as long as that’s the top priority they’ll never focus on what’s needed, like a plan for the future

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

How did that work out? I'm from the future. The moment Messi left Barcelona was relegated and not even the great players they got like Lewa could bring them back up. Messi managed to keep them up and even won a Copa del Rey with them while he was there. You haters are so stoopid.

[@handlepandle]

Someone should just take Don's mic away, it's embarrassing

[@SanelTufekcic]

I love Craig's passion

[@tiwariishan1606]

@espnfc I think Barcelona were doing damage control. If Barcelona were beaten by a very small margin say 2-1, then they might have let Messi go. After losing 8-2 in 1 game(even worse than a young Chelsea side over 2 legs ), they got brutally exposed regarding how bad the club has become. And if Messi leaves it gives an impression that even the best player has also lost hope and the potential new signings will think twice or thrice before coming to Barcelona. And that will hurt them in long term.

[@avigi74]

WELL AND ACCURATELY SAID CRAIG!!

[@inijam]

Messi did not want to leave. He was probably threatening the board that if they did not make decisions to improve the performance of the team he would leave. His family did not react as though they were being prepared to leave. It was a shock to them. If kouman could improve the way they play being more vertical and more attacking he would retire in Barcelona. He likes to play to win.

[@MohitKumar-jf2bv]

This is one of the best espnfc show of all time.

[@TheRamz1012]

Funny part is the host is better than the pundits

[@Steve-390]

Let's enjoy the great one for one more season before he leaves , Love to Messi.... Presidential clown needs to go

[@SaurabhNJR10]

As much as I think the debate put forth by Don is ridiculous but the way Shaka is making fun of it is disrespectful. Add to that the fact that Shaka is the one making such ridiculous debates all the time and yet no one laughs at it the way he is doing.

[@eofootball2954]

Ever since neymar left Barca fell apart, am I wrong?

[@ashdgreat1977]

Wrong

[@radcliffeclarke6364]

Xavi and iniesta departures had bigger impacts.... to lose two all time greats and leaders of the club one behind the other thtz rough

[@eofootball2954]

Radcliffe Clarke with Neymar they won champions league then after he went they have never won it.

[@sini_sv]

I agree with Craig’s viewpoint in this video but it must be said that in an earlier video he was questioning Messi’s decision to wait until the end of the season to officially announce that he was leaving. I don’t think there was anything wrong with Messi’s timing, I think Barcelona have taken advantage of the upheaval brought about by the pandemic, which is unethical practice by the club.

[@Mohamed_Mahmoud2]

I love how shaka is just laughing in the middle😂

[@waelhosn4924]

How annoying is Dan from 1000- 16262726272626271 ?

[@gevangtamut4199]

Don, please rewatch the interview again.

[@ycacreativecapturez]

Only craig is Talking sensible! He is saying absolutely correct and right statement rest of them saying just stupid!