A Gamper in mourning – AS.com

The Barcelona continues to manage the phases of the duel that has caused the departure of Leo Messi . From denial on Thursday when the news was leaked, he turned to anger after the press conference of Laporta Saturday in which some asked for the head of the previous board of directors and others that of the players who have not lowered their salary or have not accepted leaving the club, and now it is the negotiation phase. The one to deal with the pain and see that this is what it is. And what there is is what will come out tonight (9:30 p.m. Estadi Johan Cruyff) against Juventus in Turin in what looks like the saddest Gamper Trophy in history (follow the game live on As.com) .

The historic trophy had to be, according to the plans of the current board, the starting point of the new Barcelona. There was a Camp Nou in the middle of the inning or, at least, with 20,000 spectators at the beginning of recovering normality.

It was also expected that Messi could be present in the pre-match events in the official presentation of the new squad. IThis Gamper was going to be the one celebrating the reincorporation of the Argentine star, that although he was not there to play, if to make an appearance, take the microphone and address the public.

None of that will happen. The Generalitat vetoed that it could be played at the Camp Nou, with the consequent damage to Barça's coffers, which urgently need the reactivation of the box office. It will be played at the Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Joan Despí for the first time in history and before 3,000 spectators whose attitude to recent events is anyone's guess. Nobody rules out that the first row of this course, is in preseason. Something unheard of, but nothing that happens at Barcelona seems normal anymore.

And of course, Messi will not be either, who in the morning will give his last press conference as a Barcelona player to say goodbye to what has been the club of his life and explain why the best player in the world wanted to stay and cannot fulfill his wish.

Instead, to cling to the militant optimism always displayed President Laporta, who is now facing his most serious challenge as Blaugrana leaderYes, there will be three of the four incorporations of the Blaugrana team for this course.

Memphis, which has already debuted this preseason, will be joined by Kun Agüero and Emerson Royal. The three of them performed the traditional pose that all newcomers to Barcelona do before the Gamper with the Cup.

A photo that, although it does not serve to console the Barça fans that are still in mourning for Messi's departure, it can be used to appease the rumors regarding the departure also of Kun, which circulated through Barcelona yesterday and in which it was assured that he wanted to leave because Messi was not staying at Barcelona. Phases of Barcelona's mourning.