Lionel Messi has fired another shot at Barcelona as the Argentine superstar bid an emotional farewell to team-mate Luis Suarez, after the striker left the club to join rivals Atletico Madrid.
Messi was embroiled in a transfer saga with the Catalan club this summer as the 33-year-old sought to trigger a clause in his contract that would allow him to walk away for free, ending a near-two decade spell with the club.
The Argentine eventually waved the white flag in his pursuit of an exit, so as to avoid a huge legal battle with the club who disputed the eligibility of the clause.
Barcelona, however, saw no issue in allowing Suarez to leave for free with new boss Ronald Koeman deeming the Uruguayan had no future with the club moving forwards.
Suarez and Messi have formed a formidable partnership both on and off the pitch since his arrival from Liverpool in 2014.The maverick striker’s departure comes as another blow to one of the game’s greatest players.
And Messi has taken to Instagram to bid farewell to his attacking partner, before taking another dig at the club’s hierarchy.
“I was already getting the idea but today I entered the locker room and the card really fell,’ he wrote.
“How difficult it is going to be not to continue sharing the day to day with you, both on the courts and outside.
“It will be strange to see you with another shirt and much more to face you. You are one of the most important players in the club’s history, achieving important things both as a group and individually.
“And not to get kicked out like they did. But the truth is that at this point nothing surprises me.’ “I was already getting the idea but today I entered the locker room and the card really fell. How difficult it is going to be not to continue sharing the day to day with you, both on the courts and outside. We will miss them so much. It was many years, many mates, lunches, dinners … Many things that will never be forgotten, every day together.
“It will be strange to see you with another shirt and much more to face you. You are one of the most important players in the club’s history, achieving important things both as a group and individually. And not to get kicked out like they did. But the truth is that at this point nothing surprises me.
“I wish you all the best in this new challenge. I love you very much, I love you very much. See you soon friend.”
