The Barça squad says goodbye to Messi: Busquets, Jordi Alba, Depay, Griezmann, Luis Suárez …

Sergio Busquets will be the new captain of the first team for next season. It has not been necessary a vote or anything like that, since it has been decided naturally, between players and the coach, as the ideal replacement to cover an absence as significant as Leo Messi.

In fact, Busquets already exercised command of the squad on Friday, when he personally went to the home of Leo Messi to talk to the player, according to LaSexta. The one from Badia already knew a few hours before the official statement of the club, after a call from president Joan Laporta, the impossibility of registering him in LaLiga. Busquets spent almost an hour talking with the forward, who gave him the blessing to replace him with the captain's armband.

Busquets has also been the first member of the squad to say goodbye to Messi through social networks in a long and emotional message: “Still trying to assimilate everything and knowing how difficult it will be, I can only thank you for what you have done for the club and for those who have accompanied you these years and specifically me. You came as a child and you are the best player in history, having made this club grow at the height where it belongs and making history individually and collectively.. I can always say that I played and shared many moments with you, most of them very good, and I was lucky to grow up and enjoy thirteen seasons by your side, Beyond all this I stay with the person and the friendship we made, I will miss you very much less. I can only wish you and your family the best because you deserve it. We will miss you”.

Thus, Busquets will debut his captaincy on Sunday at the Gamper against Juventus and on August 15 in the official debut of the season against Real Sociedad in LaLiga. The second and third captain are also clearly defined: Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto.

Right now the fourth captaincy is vacant. Under normal conditions it would have to go to Jordi Alba, another player who has been positioning himself for this position for years, but the ancestry of Marc André Ter Stegen The changing room is very large, so many see the German goalkeeper as a firmer and better positioned candidate to end up as part of the captains quartet.

More goodbyes

Ansu Fati, through Instagram, was the second to say goodbye to Messi: “All the boys who come to the Masia dream of being able to play with you, I feel fortunate to have fulfilled it. I wanted to thank you for these two years for your gestures of affection towards me and for everything I learned. My family and I will always be deeply grateful, I wish you and yours all the best“.

The former captain and emblem of the club, Xavi Hernandez, did not want to miss the farewell on social networks of Leo Messi: “As a culé, partner and friend, I can only thank you for everything you have given us during these years. Whatever you do, I wish you the best. The best in history“.

The Barça footballer Alexia Putellas wanted to influence the more than relevant figure of Leo in the history of the institution: “Thanks for making me enjoy. Thanks for your football. Thank you for making the club we love even bigger.. Thanks for everything, Leo“.

Gerard Deulofeu, who played with Messi, also remembered Leo: “What a nice pleasure to share moments in the best club in the world FC Barcelona, ​​and with the best player in history, Leo Messi. Much admiration and respect for you. We can only thank you for all the wonder you have given us and you will continue to give us every week on the pitch.“.

Thanks for your treatment. In that it coincides Philippe Coutinho: “Messi, thank you very much for everything. A great honor to have met you and to have played by your side.Very grateful for the way you treated me and my family during all this time! I wish you much success in your future and may God always bless your home and family.“.

Sergi RobertoLate in the afternoon, he joined in the recognition for his former partner with some heartfelt lines: “When I was little my dream was to play for Barça's 1st team, but having done it by your side, the best player in the history of football, is something I never imagined. Thank you for all the moments that you have made me and all the Culés fans live, for all the joys you have given us, all the goals you have scored, all the titles we have celebrated, for taking this club to the top , for making so many people dream of your football and above all for doing it with this shirt. We can never give you back everything you have given us. I wish you and your family all the best. We love you and we are going to miss you very much. Eternally grateful“.

A benchmark in the team. Gerard Piqué was tremendously emotional with Leo. His open letter had a nod to the origins of their relationship, before recalling the outstanding career of both wearing the Barça shirt.

Memphis Depay, the newcomer, was very graphic: a broken heart as a sign of pain for the departure of a legend for Barcelona and football in general.

Barça's talented midfielder Miralem Pjanic thanked Leo for his figure in the dressing room: “Leo, it was nice meeting you. You are a special person, I wish you all the best for you and your family in the future. A big hug, freak“.

Teammate in the offensive zone of the team, Antoine Griezmann, also wanted to leave his message of thanks to the figure of the Argentine star: “The only thing I can tell you and that every soccer lover will think about it: Thank you! Thank you for everything you have done at Barcelona. For the city, for the club … you have changed everything! I am sure that it is not a goodbye but a see you later and that your path will cross again with FC Barcelona. I wish you the best, that you and your family are happy wherever you go. Very few know what it is to be Messi and you were an example for me in every way“.

Jordi Alba has also been with Messi for many years and they have lived countless moments that the winger wanted to remember: “What a privilege to have been able to share these 9 seasons together. What beautiful experiences we have enjoyed and how we have overcome difficult moments. I was lucky enough to be able to live your first goal in 2005 against Albacete at the Camp Nou and I never thought that one day we would have that complicity that with just a glance we understood each other. How we have enjoyed on the field with your passes in the race and my back pass, how well it worked for us. How am I going to miss it! You are not only the best player in the history of football, but you are also an exceptional human being. Friend, thank you from the heart for everything you have given to the club, for your friendship, for your support in the gray days, for the great moments lived that will remain forever in our memory. I wish you and your whole family the best in your new adventure. A big hug, I love you brother. “

He spent fewer years with Messi than Jordi Alba, but another defender, in this case Clément Lenglet, has joined the recognition for a lifetime in the Barça of the Rosario striker: “I have no words to express what a privilege it has been to share a dressing room with you for 3 seasons. You have been an example of professionalism and camaraderie. That is why you are the best player in the world and a legendary athlete.. Thank you very much for everything you have given to the club and for the help you have given me since my first day at this great institution. I wish you all the best in the future“.

Another of those who has been fired has been Luis Suarez, Messi's former partner in his time at Barcelona. The charrúa has published a post on Instagram: “Chavalín Leo Messi I know that there are plenty of words to say THE HISTORY YOU WRITTEN at Barcelona. The club that saw you grow, the club that you love so much and so many titles you achieved until you became the best player in the history. I will always be grateful for how you received me since I arrived because of what a great human being you are. Proud to have shared thousands of wonderful moments at Barcelona and to be lucky to have played with you. I sincerely hope that what happens in the future is the best for you and your family. I love you very much # 10leyenda #elmejor “.

Chavalín @leomessi I know there are plenty of words to tell THE STORY YOU WRITTEN in @fcbarcelona. The club that saw you grow, the club that you love so much and so many titles you achieved until you became the BEST PLAYER EVER. I will always be grateful for how you received me since I arrived because of what a great human being you are. Proud to have shared thousands of wonderful moments at @fcbarcelona and to be lucky to have played with you. I sincerely hope that what happens in the future is the best for you and your family. I love you so much ⚽️❤️ # 10leyenda #elmejor