FC Barcelona Transfer News: Lack Of Recent Success Could Force Lionel Messi To Leave - Report

Sky Sports Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague opined that FC Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi could be forced to leave the Nou Camp due to a lack of success as of late.

It has been a downward trend in terms of winning silverwares since Pep Guardiola stepped down as manager, and changing managers every year for the past three seasons only brought a sense of instability to the Blaugrana.

And while Barca are doing well domestically - currently placed second - they are regarded as underdogs to their mighty nemesis Real Madrid, and they are not even considered as a side that could win it all in Europe, with the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and holders Real, around.

His stay with the Catalan outfit is believed to be predicated on success and barring it could mean the end of a lengthy love story.

"When he was 18 or 19, Inter Milan made a huge offer for him and Joan Laporta told Messi's dad that he may get a lot of money at Inter but he would not get the glory and the love he would have at Barcelona," Balague told Sky Sports.

"It was a bluff by the President because no one could predict the huge success the Spanish club would have."

"That was the closest he came to leaving. But I feel we are getting to that stage again - I have the impression the question of his future is on the table again."

"I don't believe it's been answered, and it won't be until the club put out a competitive team on the pitch to answer it."

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