Barcelona may not have to go far to find a successor to Lionel Messi. Here are 3 players who could become the new Messi at Barcelona.
It’s been more than a week since Messi left Barcelona and joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), but the fans of the Catalan team still feel deep sadness.
Messi actually wants to extend his contract at Barcelona. However, this hope could not be realized due to the financial crisis that was being experienced by Barcelona and the salary limitation rules applied by La Liga.
Messi was forced to end his 20 years of service for Barcelona. With Barcelona, the 34-year-old player has presented 35 trophies and scored a total of 672 goals.
However, it seems that it did not take long for Barcelona to identify a player who could be Messi’s successor in the Catalunya team.
The reason, currently Barcelona already has several players who look like Messi in their team. Here are 3 new Messi at Barcelona:
1. Ansu Fati
Anssumane Fati Vieira or known as Ansu Fati is said to be the best successor for Messi at Barcelona. In fact, the confession was also made by Messi himself.
“I really like him and I try to help and support him,” said Messi assessing Ansu Fati’s performance in 2019 quoted by the International Business Times (IBT).
“I want them [Barcelona] to take it gradually, like they did with me when I started, taking things that are good and easy, without putting pressure on them.”
Ansu Fati was born in Guinea-Bissau on October 31, 2002, but he grew up in Seville until he finally decided to become a Spanish citizen. The 18-year-old joined Barcelona’s youth team in 2012 after moving from Sevilla.
The winger has also made his debut with the Barcelona senior team in 2019. That season, Ansu Fati performed brilliantly by scoring 11 goals from 31 appearances. Ansu Fati also became the youngest goalscorer in El Clasico at the age of 17 years 359 days.
Unfortunately, Fati’s knee injury has kept him out of action since November 2020. However, on August 5, 2021, Ansu Fati has returned to training with Barcelona.
2. Kays Ruiz-Atil
Former PSG striker Kays Ruiz-Atil has long been equated with Messi. Barcelona is also no stranger to him, because he had joined at La Masia in 2009-2015.
From La Masia, the striker who is now 18 years old then joined the PSG youth team from 2015 to 2021. The French player also had seven times playing for the Les Parisiens first team.
However, now Ruiz-Atil has returned to strengthen Barcelona B. He also hopes to soon enter the senior team.
“I’m very happy to be back, since childhood I wanted to play for Barcelona, but I got a ban from FIFA. I always thought about coming back, eventually it became possible,” said Ruiz-Atil.
“I want to be in the [Barcelona] first team and get my debut soon. I’m very happy to be back home, Barcelona have always been family to me.”
3. Ilias Akhomach
Ilias Akhomach, a player from the Barcelona youth team is also often equated with Lionel Messi.
Akhomach is an intelligent winger and can play three attacking positions.
The 17-year-old is also well-liked by former Barcelona Academy director Patrick Kluivert. The Barcelona legend called him Messi’s successor.
“He is the Messi of the future. What’s more, he is already somewhat similar,” Kluivert said of Akhomach in an interview in 2019.
