Messi, from the burofax to La Cartuja

From the press box at the Camp Nou, an image struck at the end of the celebrations of the delivery of the Copa del Rey number 31 for Barça in its history, which was Messi's 35th title. With the Cup on the pitch, the Argentine's teammates approached to immortalize the moment with the Argentine legend. Pedri, Riqui, Ansu, Arnau Tenas, Iñaki Peña, De Jong and even Pjanic wanted to retain the image forever with a radiant Messi. After almost two years in white, the Argentine, captain of the march of Iniesta, had finally been able to lift a title.

There was a buzz in the press box at La Cartuja, because with the Argentine so close to ending his contract on June 30, it was easy to interpret the image as a farewell to players who may think that Messi will not be in the dressing room next season and maybe they will not lift more titles with him. That it was, then, a unique moment. And last.

But the truth is that the image does not clarify anything. First, because he was not seen taking those same photos with his old comrades, Piqué, Busquets and Alba; And then, because Messi may not have made a final decision yet and is weighing what to do yet so as not to fail. These have been two years of wear and tear for Messi, who had experienced the degradation of his Barça, turned into a team without a soul after having been an impeccable winner for more than a decade. The symptoms offered by the team, now, however, are different. Barça has recovered passion, competitiveness, physicality and football.

Playing Messi is not easy. Now he is torn between closing a glorious era with a photo of a winner; or extend it because you are comfortable in the environment and because nowhere else like Barcelona will you find the ideal conditions to continue doing your job, at least until the World Cup in Qatar. The next few weeks will be key to deciding the future of the Argentine player, but for him the most important thing is still winning. And he's going for the double. In what is unanimous, Barcelona is that the best player in its history could not close his era at the club with the slam of the burofax. It was an ugly end that neither Messi nor Barça deserved. Seeing him lift one more title, at least, puts Barcelona's consciences in order and comforts him. But, surely, they still want more from Messi.