Hot on the heels off Lionel Messi’s exit from FC Barcelona, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are stepping in to offer the Football ace to join their squad.
Lionel Messi leaves FC Barcelona
Sadness prevailed among football fans last Tuesday when a slew of reports surfaced the internet claiming Lionel Messi is calling it a day from his 16-year-long stint with FC Barcelona, after the embarrassing 8-2 defeat versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League Quarter-Final on 16th August. The 33-year-old sent a fax to the famed La Liga club wanting to quit with immediate effect.
Protests at Camp Nou after Messi’s exit
Scores of Spanish football fans descended upon FC Barcelona’s iconic home venue, Camp Nou, protesting against Messi’s exit. Viral footage from the outrage show fans with face masks on chanting their disapproval of his intent.
FC Barcelona legend
During his 16-year-long tenure, Messi scored a whopping 634 goals in 731 matches, winning 34 trophies for FC Barcelona including 10 La Liga victories and four Champions League titles. The Argentine scored a staggering 79 goals in 2012 making him the top scorer in all club-level competitions in a calendar year, and boasts the most Ballon d’Or’s and Best Fifa Men’s Player Awards, winning six times.
IPL teams invite Lionel Messi
Following reports of Messi’s departure, Kolkata Knight Riders shared an image of the 33-year-old donning their jersey making him an offer ahead of the 13th edition of IPL in the UAE. Delhi Capitals, too, joined the fun with a brief tweet offering him a deal
IPL is set to begin on 19th September, with defending champions Mumbai Indians squaring off versus arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings in the UAE.
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(Featured photograph credit: FC Barcelona)
