Barcelona have reportedly invited Lionel Messi to farewell ceremonies to say goodbye to departing duo Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Catalunya Radio report that a special ceremony has been planned for Busquets on Wednesday and Alba on Thursday as Barca part ways with the two players.
Messi has been invited because he is very close to both players, indeed there’s been speculation all three could play together in Saudi Arabia next season.
However, it’s not clear yet if Messi will be able to attend. PSG play against Strasbourg on Saturday in Ligue 1 and then finish off their season on June 3 against Clermont.
Messi would need to take time off to be able to head to Barcelona for a few days, and it’s not known if PSG would be willing to let the GOAT go.
The Ligue 1 side have already sanctioned Messi this season for a trip to Saudi Arabia, although his ban was promptly shortened after a public apology.
Yet PSG are set to win the league this weekend. Christophe Galtier’s side will be crowned champions again if they avoid defeat or if second-placed Lens fail to win at Ajaccio.
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Woof
Ez Abde has continued to catch the eye with Osasuna this week. The winger played 88 minutes of Thursday’s 2-0 win over Athletic that has fired the team into seventh place in the table.
The Barcelona loanee may not have scored or assisted for Jagoba Arrasate’s side but he did pull off a lovely piece of magic that is very easy on the eye indeed.
Abde has six goals and two assists for Osasuna this season in what has been a very production loan spell for the youngster.
Speculation continues to rage about Abde’s future once his loan has expired. It’s thought he could get a chance in Xavi’s first-team next season, particularly as Barca do lack for options on the left of the attack.
However, there is thought to be interest in Abde from other clubs which means any substantial offers may well be considered by Barcelona.
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The left-back has starred this season
Alejandro Balde has been talking about his superb season at Barcelona after breaking into the first team under Xavi at the Camp Nou.
The 19-year-old has become a regular in the team, forcing Jordi Alba onto the sidelines, and has also become part of the Spain national team.
Balde has given a new interview and revealed the precise moment when he realised things were about to take off for him at Barca.
“The first game I didn’t play for a minute. In the second, against Real Sociedad, I started and gave my first assist with the first team. There I was aware that it could be important, that it was my moment,” he said.
“Jordi has always been very good to me, he has been essential for my progress. He has helped me in all the training sessions, he has told me how I have to defend, how to attack,” he said.
“He has also helped me a lot in the national team, I arrived again and he told me how Luis Enrique placed the full-backs. He told me to be calm. He has always been very close, I will always be grateful to him.”
Balde’s breakthrough has been a huge positive for Xavi’s side this season. The teenager is now expected to commit his future to the club and sign a new long-term contract in the summer.
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A decade of excellence, even if the credit was rarely his
The 2022-23 season has indeed been the end of an era for Barcelona. First Gerard Piqué, then Sergio Busquets, and now Jordi Alba. Three legends, and, undoubtedly — if football had one of those — three Hall of Famers. All of them gone.
Piqué was loud. Busquets was a quiet poet. Alba, for over a decade, has been the picture of unselfishness. The best left-back in club history knew exactly what his job was, and did it to near perfection, even if he rarely got the credit for it.
His relationship with Lionel Messi defied logic. It was that rare type of sports chemistry that only people who coexist on a telepathic level can understand.
You’ve seen a million times: Messi has the ball on the right wing, and looks up as Alba begins to make a run in behind the defense; Leo plays a perfect pass over the top, and Alba immediately looks to the GOAT to see where and when he’ll arrive in the box so Jordi can put in the perfect cross for yet another Lionel Messi goal.
Camp Nou celebrates. “Messi, Messi, Messi!” echoes through the night in the Catalan capital. Commentators speak of Leo’s greatness, and writers rush to their laptops to add another Messi goal to their match reports. Jordi Alba’s assist is nothing but an asterisk, a statistic, nothing more than a full-back doing his job so the forward could get all the glory.
And the best part about it is: Jordi Alba was perfectly fine with never taking the credit. He was an unselfish superstar, who always celebrated his teammates while they celebrated with him. Because they knew, even if we have failed to acknowledge it. Over and over again.
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When Barça entered one of its darkest periods, Jordi Alba became a punching bag. It was easy to criticize him for being a “bad defender” when literally nobody else was defending well. It was easy to make fun of him for crying in dressing rooms during painful losses when he was one of the very few to actually care about losing at such a deep level that it hurt his soul.
He didn’t care about the outside noise, because all he cared about was winning — and making his teammates better. So he stuck with it, took multiple paycuts, and accepted whatever role was asked of him. His final season was one spent mostly on the bench, but once again his unselfishness shone: he was a leader, a mentor to Alejandro Balde, and decided to give up his salary for next season to help the club’s finances in a future without him.
Oh, and he also played really damn well and scored a couple of huge goals in the La Liga title race. Just like Sergio Busquets, he’s proven he’s still got it and he leaves on a high.
Thank you, Jordi. We haven’t said it enough, but we really do appreciate everything you’ve done.
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A round-up of the latest Barcelona news and rumors
Barcelona announce major reduction in season ticket prices for next season's switch to Montjuic - Football España
As plans for a major redevelopment of the Spotify Camp Nou begins this summer, Barcelona will vacate their long-time home for the 2023/24 season. They will reside at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic, in a move that is expected to have a detrimental effect of the club’s finances, with revenue significantly down following the move away from the Spotify Camp Nou.
The six candidates Barcelona have shortlisted for the pivot position being vacated by Sergio Busquets - Football España
Barcelona have a tough task on their hands to work out who should occupy the role of Sergio Busquets next season. While no one player will be able to provide exactly what Busquets does to the Blaugrana, Xavi Hernandez and Mateu Alemany must assess who can share the duties well with the likes of Frenkie de Jong. Xavi has declared it their number one priority in the market.
Xabi Alonso hoping to poach precocious young talent from Barcelona for Bayer Leverkusen - Football España
Ez Abde will be returning on loan from a successful spell at Osasuna. The Moroccan international will in theory remain unless a good bid comes in, but Sport say that already the vultures are circling. It has long-since been rumoured that he has interest from the Premier League, but Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are now looking at him as a potential recruit.
Andres Iniesta departs Vissel Kobe but Barcelona departure 'far away' with no retirement plans - Football España
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is leaving Vissel Kobe after five years in Japan, but the 39-year-old intends on continuing his playing career. Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018, joining after an entire career at Camp Nou, and would go on to make 133 appearances for Vissel, scoring 26 goals and giving 25 assists. During that time he would lift the Japanese Cup and the Japanese Supercup.
Vermeeren another option Barça are considering to replace Busquets - SPORT
Barcelona's top priority is the signing of a midfielder to replace Sergio Busquets. The coaching team''s favourite option is Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad) although his signing is unlikely, the club are looking at Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton).
Paris Saint-Germain close the door on possible Jules Kounde signing - SPORT
The Parisians have no plans to sign any centre-backs this summer, as they believe they have more than enough cover for the position. They recently closed the renewal of Marquinhos until 2028, as well as having closed for months the arrival of Skriniar from Inter Milan as a free agent.
Barcelona among host of clubs tracking the forward Marcus Thuram - SPORT
Marcus Thuram has been offered several times to Barcelona and the option to sign him remains open. The French striker's contract expires in June, he is only 26 years old and is having a great season with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Andres Iniesta could join Messi, Busquets and Alba in Saudi Arabia - SPORT
Andres Iniesta announced on Thursday that he will leave Vissel Kobe in the summer after reaching an agreement with the Japanese club with whom he had a contract until the end of the year. Iniesta, 39, believes he has the strength to continue playing at least until he is 40 and wants to enjoy football at another club where he can regain his place on the pitch.
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Barcelona players have been paying tribute to Jordi Alba following the news he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Captain Sergio Busquets, who is also waving goodbye to Barcelona this summer, made it clear Alba will be missed for his influence on and off the pitch.
“I feel very lucky to have bumped into you all these years at the club where we dreamed of playing,” he wrote on Instagram.
“In Barcelona, we’re going to miss you a lot, the best left back in our history goes and on top of all that the great companion and friend you are and everything we could live together both on and off the field. Wishing you the best in this new adventure because you and your family deserve it and we will be here to support you as always. We love you!”
Sergi Roberto has also said his goodbyes, describing Alba as the best left-back Barcelona has ever had.
“Jordi, my friend, you will be greatly missed, both on and off the pitch. You leave a big void!” he wrote.
“You are a legend of this club, the best left back and above all a great partner always attentive to everyone and bringing that much needed joy. Thank you for all these years together, I wish you and your family the best! We love you so much!!”
Barcelona’s younger players have also paid tribute to Alba and thanked the veteran for helping them settle into the club and the advice he’s provided. Pedri was first up with the following message.
“It’s hard for me to assume that in a few days Barça will lose one of the best fullbacks and me a great partner,” he posted.
“Jordi, I hope wherever you go you are welcomed with the same joy and affection as you did me three years ago. I’ll miss you on the field and even more in the locker room or with the physio... The jokes and laughs we’ve had together all this time. You and your family deserve the best. Thank you so much for everything.”
“Brother thanks for everything you’ve helped me since I stepped in the first team. Your advice, jokes and good vibes are with me forever. 18 titles in 11 years describe your great career at Barça where I’ve seen you since I was a kid. Wish you all the best and I will miss you so much! Number 1 brother.”
Eric Garcia has also thanked Alba for the help he has given him during his time at Barca.
“A true legend of the club leaves but more importantly, a great person. Jordi, thank you for how you welcomed me from the first day and for your help during these seasons, you are an example for the young people and to create a good atmosphere in a locker room. Good luck in this new stage to you and your family, we will miss you!”
Barcelona is going to have a new look next year, as the leaders we’ve come to know and love at the club simply aren’t going to be there anymore. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are both departing at season’s end, and that means we need some new captains.
According to reports out of Spain, Xavi has already spoken to Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski about the roles and thinks they are both ‘perfect candidates.’
The honor is a heavy one, but both players are known for their leadership abilities so the step-up won’t be a massive surprise.
The report details that Sergi Roberto and Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be the other two captains in the squad next season. Roberto is expected to take over the armband from Busquets but it’s not clear how often he’ll be in the starting XI next season under Xavi.
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