Rio Ferdinand believes Lionel Messi could quit Barcelona after their Champions League humiliation by Bayern Munich.
Despite his best efforts, the Ballon d’Or winner was powerless to stop a relentless German side as the Catalans crashed out of the quarter-finals in embarrassing fashion in Lisbon.
Speaking on BT Sport after the game, Ferdinand questioned whether the Argentine will be tempted to leave the Nou Camp with the club in disarray and without a major trophy.
‘What is Messi thinking going home tonight?’ the pundit asked.
‘Does he want to spend his time left in that shirt given the performances and the way the squad is looking at the moment in comparison to other teams around Europe.
‘Has he got the time to sit there and wait?
‘Football is a game that comes and goes very quickly in your life so these next two years where he’s still going to have the power to influence games the way he does, is he going to want to be doing that but not competing for the big titles?’
A photo of the forward looking disconsolate at half-time emerged after the game, casting further doubts on his future – which had already been up in the air amid rumours he is unhappy with Quique Setien in charge.
The Argentine looked at the floor as goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen stood by the door, also looking downcast before heading back out for the second half.
Messi has been linked with a move away from Barca after clashes with the club’s hierarchy and Serie A side Inter Milan has been suggested as a possible destination for the 33-year-old.
Former Inter president Massimo Moratti believes they have the resouces to take him to the San Siro if he wishes to leave the LaLiga club.
The captain carried his team through much of the 2019-2020 season, providing 31 goals and 26 assists in all competitions, but his efforts were not enough to see the club finish the campaign with any silverware.
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