Kolkata: The absence of Lionel Messi against Eibar has renewed the spark putting a question in front of whether the Argentine talisman has played his last game for the Catalan giants. Barcelona will play the last match of the 2020-21 season against Eibar on Saturday.
Barcelona have already crashed out of the La Liga title race with a shock 1-2 defeat against Celta Vigo last week at home. The league is now a two-way race with leaders Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid fighting it out on the final day.
LATEST NEWS | Leo #Messi is not training today with the coach's permission and will not play against Eibar pic.twitter.com/ak3F5W527x
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 21, 2021
The news came as a bit of shock for everyone when it was announced that Messi won’t be training on Friday and it is likely that the captain has taken permission from the coach. He is also the second player after Pedri to be sent on an early holiday after a busy schedule.
With 30 goals from 35 games in the league, Messi will still finish as La Liga’s top scorer this season. His nearest rival is Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno on 23 goals. “The striker can enjoy a rest before next month’s Copa America after a season in which he is one of the players in the squad who has played most,” Barcelona said in a statement.
The defeat to Celta Vigo encounter may also turn out to be Messi’s last in La Liga in a Barcelona shirt as the talismanic forward still has not signed a new contract and is free to join any other side free of charge when his deal ends on June 30.
