Lionel Messi staying at Barcelona ‘isn’t a victory’ for ANYONE! - Sid Lowe | ESPN FC

The big story that shook the football world is Lionel Messi deciding to stay at Barcelona next season despite numerous rumours he’d leave the Camp Nou this summer. ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe says Messi was brutal with his comments, in particular about his conversations with Josep Maria Bartomeu. Lowe believes Messi staying isn’t necessarily a good thing for new manager Ronald Koeman because “Messi conditions everything you do.”
#ESPNFC #LionelMessi #Messi #Barcelona #LaLiga
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[@w.kamaranjoku1712]

This guy is a pretty decent pundit compared to the other espn ‘pundits’.

[@sosolawson6587]

I don't think so remember him saying dea gea would replace scezny at juventus

[@armanvranka7520]

Sid Lowe actually knows what he’s talking about

[@abg6461]

@@sosolawson6587 that must've been just before the 2018 WC, when degea was world's best!

[@abg6461]

Yes👍🏻I'd prefer him anyday over those ex-players who are just being biased fanboys of their old clubs!!!👍🏻😝

[@jimjones3287]

Definitely. Him and Gab because these 2 are journalists with real news and facts the rest are only pundits with opinions.

[@thomasstirewalt5557]

I wish they had Sid on more often. He is REALLY good at his job and I’ve got used to his intelligence during the Messi things. Hope they don’t just go back to the regular

[@mlsarchitect]

How f'king dumb do you have to be to call Sid Lowe intelligent...? It's rhetorical, don't answer. Sid Lowe is a Real Madrid hack writer (for want of a better word). His job is to make Barca sound like they're on the brink of collapse the day after they win a treble. Speaking of trebles -- the last two years Barca went a season without a trophy was the years before they won their two trebles.

[@johnwall4mvp463]

I agree hes a great pundit and a good author too. Sid Gab Jules are the best part of every show they're on in my opinion

[@Dubai892JK]

@@mlsarchitect because Barca is a 8-2 team

[@ShivavihS]

@@johnwall4mvp463 Gab is absolutely delusional.. He's still saying after Messi's interview that it was a powerplay by Messi.

[@thomasstirewalt5557]

Naully Prana Gab has some bad takes but also some good ones as well

[@soeradjnarain341]

Bartomeu came back on his word to Messi ! Barca in the person of Bartomue, deceived Messi. Nothing to be proud about! This isn't a victory for Barca. They should be ashamed of treating their club legend in this way

[@booma3069]

Hopefully they finish 7th in the league title

[@mr_niceman]

Exactly! Bartomeu our! Can’t say that enough, what a despised wicked cunning piece of shxt

[@fullmetalprism5249]

Messi showed maturity, goodwill and love to Barcelona than the board did to him and the club Shameful!

[@thinkdifferent4314]

This is stupid by Bartomeou, Messi is gonna walk away for free in 10 months. Messi wants to go, just sell him for a decent fee and save 100+mill on wages and try to get some decent players.

[@asefsh.1909]

... but Messi insists he wants to go for free... He does not want any negotiation on that!

[@asefsh.1909]

@Noel You don't have any source for what you said! But I know that Messi is insisting he wants to go for free. 1- If a player goes for free, can have a higher salary with his contract. 2- I doubt if City can pay 100 mill euro without selling players. They run away once from UEFA bane

[@bigmacwilliams4145]

Palmix X I am more then confident in saying Man City would of happily given Barca £100M for Messi..

[@gregehirim9974]

@@asefsh.1909 are you sure you are following the whole saga, barcelona do not want to negotiate in any way, all they are saying is he is not sllowef to leave, it is up to them to bring down the asking price to 100mil, which clubs will be willing to pay but they refused.

[@BobbyMarley718]

Palmix X messi doesn’t care if its for free or not. He knows teams will pay either way. Barca told him he cant leave unless its for 700m. If they told him $100m he would have easily gotten a team to pay that.

[@SuperYasim]

This is one of the best interviews I have heard from a journalist in a long time. Well done Sid Lowe.

[@wilbertegipsy3329]

Sid has this amazing ability to state facts balanced with emotion without breaking a sweat.. Great analysis of the Messi interview and the entire situation in a nutshell

[@wetalkhawkstv]

So instead of getting 100m and some young players Barca is going to lose their GOAT for free next year. 🤦‍♂️

[@dalamlyntimawlieh5157]

No. He's going to stay even at the end of the new season

[@devinhalim5194]

@@dalamlyntimawlieh5157 i don't think so

[@whatudoin1]

Nobody made an offer

[@phantom1076]

​@@MrDingDongPong um, you do know that his wage with a new club can be negotiated right? There are a bunch of ways they can structure a deal that give him substantial income. Even his Barca contract, a substantial amount of income comes from the right to his image. Any club that has Messi or Ronaldo or Neymar gonna make a boatload of money selling merchandise, jerseys and sponsorship based on them. Those three guys are brands onto themselves. You think Nike would have spent $185m annually in sponsorship with Barca without Messi in it? I guarantee you they would have a standard contract clause that stipulate any substantially material change in the club business would render the contract invalid. Messi leaving Barca can be rendered as such. PSG spent $400m to acquire Neymar, and everybody thought they were crazy. Well, the club valuation skyrocketed by $500m following the news. So yeah, it pays for itself immediately.

[@mediacenterman8583]

@@dalamlyntimawlieh5157 Barca won this round because they keep him for now and have the opportunity to convince him to stay and sign another contract. No way will Barca let him go for free they would rather demand a lesser 'fee' in January. 200m now or nothing in the summer

[@mr.sushi2221]

This is a bad look for Barca. Look how they treat their best player in history. Ronaldo was allowed to leave when he wanted to.

[@EdgarHernandez-zy2ev]

Ronaldo was kicked out as well by Madrid. President did not offer him a new contract worth his time. Look it up :)

[@fevsong4351]

Edgar Hernandez Perez never wanted him to leave and he didn’t ask his €1BN release clauses.

[@MadhavPainyu]

@@EdgarHernandez-zy2ev stop getting your news from Barca WhatsApp groups

[@devinhalim5194]

@@EdgarHernandez-zy2ev when????,he's not kick out,he wanted to leave,and Perez just said "go on then,we can get money and you can leave",no drama,nothing,just Juventus paid the money and Ronaldo came to Juventus

[@kathanpatel1896]

@@EdgarHernandez-zy2ev salty barka fan😂😂😂

[@SD-ef4qp]

He has given his life for this club... Least they can do is respect his decision.. What a pathetic treatment of a legend.

[@allah5404]

Sid is the best pundit on ESPN.

[@basudevbasnet4166]

And steve nicol the opposite.

[@aakashsigdel3354]

Steve nicol says hi!🤣

[@noblesseoblige6050]

Him and Gab Marcotti IMO

[@sanglapchakraborty9367]

@@noblesseoblige6050 but Gab was so wrong in this saga.... he still says it was a powerplay after all messi himself said!

[@superjervis]

Barcelona will be wasting a very important year of Messi's career

[@asefsh.1909]

So... Messi cares more than us about his career .. so he can go for negotiation instead of asking leaving for free... right?

[@jimjones3287]

This is a wasted year as Messi is surrounded by players not capable of winning a league or UCL. Coutinho couldn't start at Bayern, Busquets is old, your second best player in Suarez is gone, Rakatic and Vidal gone. What a tragedy.

[@huydoan1382]

@@jimjones3287 who knows, with a team full of young players we might be able to watch a more exciting football team, i mean yeah not winning titles but at least more exciting.

[@jimjones3287]

@@huydoan1382 Yea, as an older player he's going to want to play for as many titles as possible not to play just to entertain. CR7 has more UCL than him. A player like Messi who believes he's the best I'm sure he thinks about that and wants to go to a team that can win UCL like Man City or PSG.

[@jimjones3287]

Barcelona aren't winning a UCL anytime soon

[@meli1150]

I’m CR7 fan to the core but this really sucks to see it go like this 😢. All the best Messi , stay in there , keep your head up, you did no wrong ❤️

[@GODLOVEME-uj3vb]

maybe he should go same club with cr7 :)

[@mugambwamartin5854]

Bartomeu is not a man of honour after all, just a business man

[@angrybat9971]

The biggest joke of 2020 “BATTOMEU IS STILL THE PRESIDENT OF BARCAAA”

[@Dubai892JK]

BAR8-2CA

[@TheBerlinTwo]

So true man. I cannot believe that the members of the club can't just accelerate the elections of the new president. They should be hunting Bartomeu with Torches and Pitchforks goddamnit

[@GauravSingh-hh8bw]

DARK HUMOUR

[@fedjetang8925]

Also he said. If Messi stays I will leave. He's not leaving is he? What a liar..

[@Incognito87146]

Sid Lowe is the best on ESPN

[@andrewrandazzo9174]

Sid Julz and gab by far my top 3 love em

[@sohaibsanaan4139]

@@andrewrandazzo9174 they are genuine journalists while others are b level pros or from a bygone era

[@bahadirakbay]

He is great and gab rest of them makes me sick when I listen to them

[@xprime1054]

@Xsanther ale?

[@bigmacwilliams4145]

He’ll be talking to clubs come January, PSG will be licking their lips at this!

The season doesn't end in January. Pay attention ffs! He will waste another year in that shithole club unfortunately.

[@bigmacwilliams4145]

Sam He’ll be able to sign a pre-contract with any club who wants him in January, I imagine he’ll be getting a phone call off City or PSG on January 1st!

[@vaylonmane3223]

Bigmac Williams January*

[@sayembhuiyan9489]

by January he might not feel the same way anymore and change his mind again to stay....i am pretty sure that is what Barca is banking on when Messi is persuaded to stay

[@bigmacwilliams4145]

Sayem Bhuiyan I doubt he’d have changed his mind, they aren’t beating Madrid to a league title and they aren’t winning the CL!

[@bojanradivojevic2866]

I can’t imagine how hurt he must feel.

[@josiehuman-rightsdemocracy188]

😢💔💙😞

[@kevinmole9982]

i know i felt so sorry for him Barcelona are a vile club to me now

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

It seems from the interview that he did that many things about this event hurt him. Footballers are getting shafted by cunning lawyers.

[@benedictchinweuba5820]

I think it's sad that Messi wasn't allowed to leave when he really wanted to. He's earned that right considering how much he has done for the club.

[@kaizokuoluffy6557]

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

[@jazzi522]

He couldn't do it before the end of season because man city had transfer ban then

[@aliabo6403]

🤣🤣🤣💯👌

[@BobbyMarley718]

City and PSG already preparing there contract offers for new years.

[@kobiyariyari6559]

And they won't have to pay anything

[@CTID-ou2ud]

Yes going to City not psg

[@hamzasat]

Good luck lol 34-45 Messi .he is useless since 2014 as a Barcelona fan I'm happy that you can take him

[@CTID-ou2ud]

mehdi Moro you’re only saying that cause he’s staying. Bet you cried when he said he wanted to leave. You’re keeping him hostage.

[@edwisongogo6326]

@@hamzasat "useless" dumbest Comment on KZbin 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@spotted9106]

Ain't victory certainly for ESPN because they won't be able to milk the drama any further.

[@hkicgh7277]

LOL.

[@jchorta4504]

Yeh, spot on. This was a 14 minute video!🙄

[@estevanangel9990]

Lol you are so wrong

[@danielwilson6323]

Oh they're just getting started dissecting this interview 😂 expect a week of videos on it

[@aduad]

You new to ESPN?...they'll dissect the whole interview and every performance till Messi leaves...and then they'll dissect the difference in his performances between the two teams. loool

[@ebesani]

This is perhaps the best insight I’ve heard on this matter. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Me-nq2cf]

Sid is the best pundit on any show. Him, Gab and Jules make even out the other "pundits" on this show

[@letlotlonaledi1944]

Bortameu will regret this. Messi can say his attitude won't change but his heart won't be here. He wont be as determined and wont be as driven. Barcelona could've gotten a transfer fee and wages saved but he is too dumb to see it

[@HuguesAyemou]

Messi will leave for free in January. he seemed so calmed and poised. He has already made his mind

[@SplitTheBeat]

He can’t leave in january. He can negotiate with clubs in january to join them after the end of the season.

[@userjim83]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Chance007]

@@SplitTheBeat I think that's what he's trying to say Einstein.

[@TacticalManager]

Biggest prank ever for Manchester City 😂🤣

[@orlandosportsacademy6207]

They had Messi for a second or 2 ahhahaha

[@michaelrowell7798]

Sit down and shut up Pep..😂🤣

[@johnmalone1713]

Why for city they never said once they wanted him it was the media who said city was intrested so hate to dissapoint you no prank on city dumb dumbs 😂😂😂😂

[@kquemob3573]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 true that

[@xprime1054]

@SND says a random guy on youtube

[@briaf3370]

The interviewer just FANTASTIC also!

[@bluemediafc7391]

If his Mind doesn’t change come January and he still wants to leave, Messi could sign a Pre-Contract and leave for free Next season

[@mahmouddiab2490]

i love u sid man.... every word u said 100%

[@briaf3370]

GREAT ANALYSIS SID, AS ALWAYS...Brian from Michigan, Divided States of America.

[@anurag123B]

I have a whole new level of respect for the GOAT and a whole new low for Barcelona the Organization. Who have built themselves into this giant organisation on the shoulders of players like Messi. And just because they have a contract with him that ties him down for another year doesn't mean Barcelona the Organization could not have shown some compassion to the GOAT. in the end it is sad to see the greatest Barca player will leave in one year's time.

[@talesfromtheclassroom]

why bring Cristiano's name up? This is about Messi and Barcelona.

[@anurag123B]

@@talesfromtheclassroom hahahaha good one. But the GOAT plays for Barca. That is the truth 🤟🏽

[@stevenwillie7667]

Why would he leave next year now?? Bartemou will be out by then

[@honestpenaldo]

Anurag Borkar the goat plays for ittihad fc

[@aegistahl1835]

The GOAT is a Belgian that plays in China. His name is Fellaini.

[@jromero1775]

Messi has to keep everyone happy in this, the club, his teamates, his fans, his own family, everyone except that deep down, hes not happy with himself. Let him be happy...

[@patrickhynes-foy6742]

This is exactly the kind of insight and analysis we want to see. The only thing Craig Burley offers is a bad attitude

[@thee0ryx939]

It shows how humble Messi is compared to other ego driven players who would have went to court in a heart beat.

[@riomark2166]

Sid low is the best on Espn all the other pundits should learn from this legend!!

[@mugambwamartin5854]

I am more of a Messi fan than barca, , he made football easy, when you watch him, barca is a maximum security prison

[@victoriabanda2595]

Lol ...

[@mugambwamartin5854]

@@victoriabanda2595 wat else can we say after he was betrayed by the whole barca board , that junk president

[@sumeghzimba359]

True

[@g-1393]

That's y I say barca is a plastic club

[@galankgcindonesia9695]

Really? He won nothing since xavi and iniesta left. If you say he won la liga or copa, benzema did.

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

Couldn't someone say something like: while the contract states June 10 as the date by which Messi has to notify the club he is leaving without transfer fee, the spirit of the clause is to give the player ten days (or however many days) after the last game of the season is played to notify Barcelona, so in that spirit Messi is allowed until ten days after final game played (August 31 or whatever date) to notify Barcelona of leaving without transfer fee.

[@luxurylifestyle2329]

This Sid guy looks like Jules without hair!😂

[@shahherwan93]

😭😭

[@7yep4336dfgvvh]

He looks like the non-fat version of gab

[@dddontplay-_-5487]

I wiah sid was more involved in other leagues honestly, I love his analysis

[@hesch-tag]

Sid really knows what he is talking about.

[@davej3952]

People who are saying that he's an actor or this and that… pay his release clause and get him outta barca … the amount is €700 million. … He wanted to leave and he still wants to leave …

[@hond4h34d]

I can’t wait for the documentary....

[@StamfordBridge]

Good point about the timing of the City Europe ban.

[@kutlwanomere2138]

Been waiting for Sid..

[@Unusualgroophy]

Yes!! The saddest part is that he wanted to go because of the conditions...this guy said it best! I hope they atleast make his conditions better 🥺

[@makingivan]

The most clearheaded analysis I’ve watched so far. Bravo, Sid!

[@jameslawson2848]

Love this video

[@nathan.7169]

Such a dumb move from Barca. So desperate to keep him, just let him go so he can be happier. Shame all the haters are gonna say he did it to cover the 8-2 loss.

[@asefsh.1909]

So Messi could sit for a negotiation so Barcelona can get perhaps 200 mil euro in this corona-19 economic disaster.

[@nathan.7169]

SND He’s been asking to leave since a few year ago pal, he said himself the club needs younger players with new minds and that his time is over

[@piyushsharma5177]

I love Sid. He makes sense. Dan too (sometimes).

[@Maully18]

That book at the left side of Sid's head tho.

[@abdulssewanyana]

The best analysis Sid, Bravo

[@Slim-MMA]

Barcelona will go trophyless, Font will be elected as president and Messi will leave for free next summer. I think the 2021/22 season will be a fresh start spearheaded by Font and Xavi/Koeman.

[@bradleysmith6478]

almost got this prediction right

[@juanitokadusalejr.1512]

Sid Lowe authentic analyst.. Very good

[@jorawar007]

Sid is very knowledgeable man 👍

[@alfiyantojanuar5255]

Absolutely Sad.😭😭😭 Gbu Lionel Messi. Wish you the best

[@MichaelCretu]

Having Sid on ESPN FC is like having Messi play in MLS at his prime.

[@Kronos221292]

Why is there an "ESPN: Biased" book in the background?

[@reenot3174]

Sid is the only person with a brain on ESPN.

[@indianstate14]

As a long time barca fan,i feel the recent events are not painting a good picture of the club. Barca is the best not just because they have the greatest players in the world and they win a lot of titles, but because they maintain high ethics. Not sure what they are doing now is anything but ethical.

[@faghriedaniels]

It has a very Truman Show feel with Ed Harris as Barthomeu

[@davidbaker577]

This has been one of the best session of all.

[@SiddharthVaz]

Spot on by Sid!

[@catemin7781]

cried when I watched Messi's interview with GOAL. I agree with Sid, It's going to be sad to watch him play under duress. Want to see him have fun on the field and be happy! that president should leave ASAP, not next year but this year.

[@nohara7366]

Lol🙄😂

[@MrOvertoad]

Who didn't see that coming?

[@colet8940]

Messi leaving I thought was a 100% no way he stays🤣🤣🤣

[@biohio1041]

🙋‍♂️

[@cheviidevii]

If I was Barcelona boss I would have sold Messi for £100M + £50M add ons if the team he goes to win their domestic league within 2 years. No way I would have kept him for one more season and let him go for free. Especially since his paycheck is massive.

[@sajadsj5330]

this is all sad and i think barca fans must do some kinda protest to change the manager of club right now or let messi go, cus he doesnt deseve to be imprisoned in barca after all he has done for this club

[@parkroyal1]

Wayne Rooney did the same thing under fergie when Ronaldo left it's a shame he wasnt able to force the glazers and out

[@johnmalone1713]

50 year old club formed in 1970 with no history 😂😂😂😂😂

[@empfrench]

was it just me, or was the messi text bouncing on the screen? just wondering if I'm having a mini-stroke or something

[@veckgames]

In before Bartomeu pulls the ultimate 900 IQ move and now that Messi has stated publicly that he's staying, goes back to the negotiating table with the power to drive up the transfer fee.

[@emmanuelsmith8629]

When it comes to Barcelona news I respect sid

[@kiing_tchalla444]

I don't look at Barcelona the same way anymore. This is a player/legend that made your club better and the league better for years he held their legacy and they treat him like this

[@Aaron71222]

Just gimme Sid all the time so I can actually start to watch ESPN FC again

[@titusfernandes09]

Couldn't help notice Messi's image overlapping Hitler books in sid's library. Lol!

[@Kajolaa]

I just hope it ends like the "Last Dance"

[@emirhansanli618]

It's a victory for my Football Manager 2021 game play with Barcelona

[@valianwolverine]

m here after Craig’s video by espn , Sid makes so much sense... Also, Bale vs RM - Bale is wrong Messi vs Barca - Barca is wrong

[@barryclegg9961]

Messi is clearly upset and wants out. As a barca fan im glad messi stays but not against his will. I just hope messi finds joy in a barca shirt again.

[@ordinaryguy815]

Imagine Barca going on to win CL next year now

[@pz4934]

Aye yo guys, didn't bartomeu say he'll resign if Messi says Bartomeu's leaving? Will Bartomeu resign soon now?

[@avineshblah5739]

Just let the man go, anyone who has been watching barca games for last 3 or 4 years know what he's done this is just sad

[@pablosingh9440]

Javier Tebas stepped in threats were made

[@cvarikos]

Phil Coutinho, Neymar, Thiago Alicantra, Greizmann, Dembele .. as an objective eye thats one heck of a project. If the president leaves, I stay .. there is alot of ambivelence. Is it Leo or the coaches or the people running the club? When Pep left I felt the senior players kinda drove him out ... he can say he wanted a new challenge but if you're winning everything .. why go? So that would be the first thing to resolve, find the agitators and move them on. But Leo has to be onboard with helping to mould the side into a team again.

[@gursheeshsingh5536]

They don’t even know about the vote of no confidence

[@divinesports3850]

It is pointless to keep a player that does not want to stay

[@HongKong.Shenzhen.]

sid much balance not bias like others

[@ammaardawood9247]

sid you are by far the best journalist on espn fc

[@jjsamuelgunn1136]

Why doesn't anyone point out that one big reason why Messi didn't want to give formal notice before 10 June was because he did not want to disrupt the focus of the team and club during the still on-going title chase and UCL competition. Duh!! Of course, you can talk about Messi exercising his right but from his interview you know that he is not that selfish as to put himself first all the time.

[@rafa5d]

Listening to these 2 dear God! "under duress", "a prisoner!" Pure Sensationalism broadcasting ...

[@FTH4FW]

It seems like no one is talking about the possibility that Messi could still end up leaving this summer. The fact that he admitted that he is ONLY staying because he is forced to surely puts more pressure on Bartomeo. The board might decide that it is best for all parties to agree a transfer fee and let him leave.

[@vishmashah6828]

Much respect to Lionel Messi but club must respect his decision and let him go. I m afraid that Messi stays without his will and not play his best games and will season go without trophies

[@eduadains4465]

Dunno why but Mr Lowe is one of my fav

[@sidgtdalicense]

Sid is "The Transporter" of ESPNFC

[@sm4773]

His departure was a win-win situation for both of them.

[@mergimrrustolli79]

It's like that relationship where one partner wants to leave but give the relationship another chance

[@TK-ne2yo]

Gonna be a grueling season ahead mentally for Messi. Sad. Hopefully he continues to produce and gets to Man City.

[@brotherluv7137]

This guy knows his football. One of the best pundits on ESPN

[@cruyffway6973]

What makes the interview extraordinary is the fact he's in flip flops

[@victoriabanda2595]

Good analysis sid, how others can say this was a power play is beyond me...messi literally been forced to stay at barca...This is a crime

[@laserloui2008]

Barca stopped being competitive for quite a few years now. Since Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Guardiola left the club Messi was pretty much carrying the team. It was a one man show and at some times pretty hard to watch. Messi carrying the club to victories worked to some extend in La Lila but is not clearly not enough for CL. I cant see how this could change next season.

[@iOver]

Sid lowe is amazing!