Luis Enrique has insisted Barcelona ‘will continue to win titles’ without Lionel Messi as he waded into the saga surrounding the Argentine.
Messi, a six-time Ballon d’Or winner, had been at war with the club as he attempted to push through a move to Manchester City to secure a reunion with Pep Guardiola.
But with LaLiga and club president sticking to the idea Messi had no legal ground to stand on due to the €700million (£630m) release clause in his contract, the 33-year-old begrudgingly confirmed he will now remain at the club.
Financial demands made the move ‘impossible’ and so Messi, who has a year left on his current deal, was left with no choice but to accept his fate at the Nou Camp, for another 12 months at least.
The future of Messi captured the imagination of fans and media across the world and Enrique, who managed Barcelona between 2014 and 2017, guiding them to their last Champions League triumph in 2015, was no exception.
‘I think the clubs are above all people, players and presidents. Barcelona, founded in 1899, is one of the best in the world. They have always won titles,’ Enrique said ahead of Spain’s meeting with Ukraine.
‘It is evident that there has been a wonderful relationship. Leo has made Barca grow exponentially but I would have liked it if a much more friendly agreement had been reached.
‘Sooner or later, Messi will stop playing at Barca. Barcelona will continue to win titles without Messi and Messi will continue to be a wonderful footballer.’
Enrique oversaw an incredible period in the club’s history with the famous MSN frontline of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
The 2015 treble under Enrique was only the second time in the club’s history that they had won it and Messi and his team-mates have found life difficult, particularly in the Champions League, since he left.
Messi had simply had enough of his current situation after the club’s 8-2 humiliation to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month.
