Lionel Messi urges Barcelona to abandon €100m transfer raid for key reason

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Lionel Messi has given a lot to Barcelona over the last 16 years, and it continues to be suggested that he’s having a say in the club’s transfer plans.

The 30-year-old has arguably earned that right as he approaches the latter stages of his career, as he’ll want to be aware of what the Catalan giants are doing to ensure that they remain competitive as his influence will begin to wane.

With 523 goals in 601 appearances, a trophy cabinet which includes eight La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies and three FIFA Club World Cups, along with countless individual accolades, it might be worth listening to the Argentine icon.

In turn, according to Diario Gol, as re-reported by The Express, he has reportedly urged Barca to end their pursuit of Antoine Griezmann as he believes it will have an adverse affect on teammate and close friend Luis Suarez.

The increased competition will ensure that someone is left disappointed, and while it’s highly unlikely to be Messi, Griezmann has been played up front for both Atletico Madrid and France which in turn suggests that Suarez could be the one to suffer.

As noted by Guillem Balague in his Sky Sports column, Griezmann will have a €100m release clause next summer, and so it’s going to be a significant investment if Barcelona do decide to sign him.

However, they’ll have to take into consideration his struggles so far this season, as he’s managed just three goals and three assists in 14 appearances which could arguably be put down to Atleti’s system and tactics not suiting him.

Meanwhile, Suarez hasn’t fared much better with his brace at the weekend taking him up to five goals in 15 outings, and so the pair certainly have much to prove between now and the end of the season.

In turn, it remains to be seen how the situation plays out and if Messi’s desired option is true and if it has any impact on Barcelona’s decision making. On paper, adding a player with Griezmann’s quality and to help the squad get younger, it would seem like a bad move for Barca to abandon their reported pursuit of the Frenchman.

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