Barcelona are starting to plan for life without Lionel Messi, but the Argentine superstar has chosen his own successor.
The 30-year-old has long since been the main man at Camp Nou, but with Andres Iniesta’s exit this summer, he has decided to make sure his legacy will he followed.
He has chosen Ousmane Dembele to take over from him, despite the 20-year-old Frenchman struggling in his first season since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
That goal shows why Barça need Dembele to succeed next season. Nobody else in the squad, even Messi, can break open a defence like that. He brings a new dimension.
— Andy West (@andywest01) May 9, 2018
A serious hamstring injury kept him out for four months, hampering his progress, but he has since shown glimpses of his potential, scoring a brace against Villarreal last week.
Antoine Griezmann is said to be joining Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in the summer, but he will have to accept a supporting role behind Messi, and now Dembele in the future.
GRAB THIS OFFER!
Want to get the best free bets for the Premier League and Champions League? We’ve got you covered for all of the biggest fixtures in the biggest and best league in the world, not to mention Europe’s premier club competition! Don’t miss your chance to win big!