Koeman, Busquets pay tribute to departing Messi

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman and new club captain Sergio Busquets paid tribute to Lionel Messi ahead of Sunday’s Joan Gamper trophy game against Juventus.

Around 3,000 fans turned out at the Johan Cruyff stadium for the event, which also serves as the squad presentation for the upcoming season, but which has been overshadowed by news that Messi will exit the club, with sources telling ESPN that he is set to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca could not complete the 34-year-old’s new contract, with his previous deal having expired last month, due to “financial and structural obstacles.” Earlier on Sunday, a tearful Messi bid farewell to the only club for which he has played, insisting he had wanted to remain and did everything he could to make that happen.

Chants of “Messi, Messi” could be heard across the stadium as players were being presented to the fans, as well as in the 10th minute of the game. Antoine Griezmann, Ansu Fati and new signing Memphis Depay were applauded while Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti, both on the transfer window list, received a frostier reception.

“Despite Leo Messi’s farewell, we are very excited about the new season with the squad that we have and the signings we have made,” Koeman told the crowd. “Moreover, the youngsters that are coming up to the first team and that are the future of this great club.

“We are convinced that we will give you a lot of joy this season,” the Barcelona coach continued. “With a lot of help, work, sacrifice, we will achieve the maximum. We know the duty we have to represent this club.”

Messi’s departure saw Busquets claim the captaincy and the Spain international knows he has big shoes to fill.

“It’s an honour to arrive here as first team captain of the best club in the world,” Busquets said. “I’ve had great examples like (Carles) Puyol, Xavi (Hernandez) and Leo (Messi). I will try to be up to standard. I want to have a special memory for Leo.

“Thanks for taking Barça to the top, making history,” Busquets added. “Being the best in the world and beating all individual and collective records. We wish you the best. Eternal thanks, Leo. Finally. a new season begins, with great enthusiasm and ambition. We fight for all the fans and we do it with you. We need you more than ever.”

Messi, who scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona and is the club’s record appearance maker and top goal scorer, leaves the Catalan club as a free agent, one year after he sought an exit having fallen out with then-club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

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