Former Barcelona star Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the best footballer ever to play the game.His absurd ease in dribbling past players or his guile to direct the ball wherever he wants is a skill possessed by few. After spending close to two decades at Nou Camp, Messi bid them farewell last summer.
It was a strange sight to watch Messi represent another club when he signed for Paris-Saint Germain (PSG). However, Barcelona had no one but themselves to blame for losing Messi.
The club had been driven to the ground both financially and in terms of a competitive squad by some poor management at board level. Messi’s departure was increasingly inevitable.
Barcelona are a big club, traditionally speaking. They have years of success, culture and heritage in European football. It was pitiful to watch them clutch at straws to replace Lionel Messi.
It is understandable that no club can find an overnight replacement for Lionel Messi. He is a magician. However, one would have expected Barcelona to have an alternative plan ready to tackle the crisis.
Maybe signing another proven goal-scorer in his prime? Maybe changing the football philosophy at the club? Or maybe even accepting that they are in a transition phase and bringing in top-level young talent. Barcelona chose to sign free agents Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay to replace Messi.
While Aguero was already on the wrong side of the 30s, Depay had never managed to prove his worth at a big club. Neither of them were ever going to replace Messi, who has registered 709 goals and 301 assists in 778 appearances for the Catalans.
On that note, let’s look at five better prospective signings who might have been able to revive the goalscoring fun at Nou Camp.
Liverpool have seen a rise in fortunes in recent years. While much of it has been due to an influx of brilliant defenders, their ruthless attack has been key as well. Mohamed Salah is at the heart of the Reds’ attacking affluence. His vibrant energy has seen goals pour in with consistency. Although he has yet to reach the bar he set during his debut season – 44 goals in 52 games for Liverpool – Salah has remained a quality force for the club.
Mohamed Salah is the first Liverpool player to score in 9 consecutive matches ever.
It may have been nearly impossible for Barcelona to pry the Egyptian maestro out of Liverpool’s hands. But if they had, Camp Nou would be lit with Salah’s goals and assists. Diminutive like Messi, Salah has the pace and dribbling skills to revive Barcelona’s dwindling form.
His current return of 23 goals in 26 games for Liverpool makes Salah one of the best in the world. Barcelona may have had the closest thing to Messi had they brought in the Egyptian ace to Nou Camp.