Lionel Messi left Barcelona for good, but the club, fans and players remained in a vicious, and poisonous triangle. It is widely known that club’s debts, and mainly the wage structure, so over the La Liga rules are the reason while Messi wasn’t able to continue with his beloved club, but after his surprise departure, an angry president, furious fans and unsatisfied players remained. Joan Laporta had to defend himself from the critics and accused his predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu for the clubs state of affairs. The fans accused everybody, and some players were specifically targeted because of their alleged refusal to take a pay cut, thus unableing Messi to stay. And players are angered too, because they must have a pay cut, even thou Messi has left, but also have to keep up with the fans rage. So, they refer to the club’s president for answers. Who scored more goals this season, Braithwaite or Messi? Hint: It’s not Messi!Latest one of them is a veteran Jordy Alba, another in line of players who must take a pay cut, and has to absorb the fans wrath for letting Messi go. After a 4-2 win over Real Sociedad, Barca’s first game without the Argentinian, club captain Gerrard Pique announced that he decided to take a pay cut in order to help the club’s finances. “I felt it’s what I had to do. I’ve been in touch with the other captains (Roberto, Busquets, Alba) and they’re going to take a reduction too. It’s just a matter of timing. That’s why I could do it first to get it done quickly and help register players. We’re a family and the captains have been keen to do this from the first moment too” he told Movistar. The fans booed Alba, as they felt he didn’t want to reduce his salary and ‘helped’ Messi leave, but Pique told that all that came from misunderstanding. “I know the others are close to doing so too. Sometimes the information people receive isn’t 100 percent correct. I feel proud of the other captains and I want the players and fans to be all together” said Pique. VILLAREAL – GRANADAAfter the match, the annoyed Alba explained the situation, and put the ball to Laporta’s court. “No one called me before Euro 2020, that’s false. When the club talks with me, I am willing. I’m from here, spending my whole life in Barcelona. That my commitment is questioned hurts me a lot. As the president hasn’t spoken specifically about this yet, I suppose he will speak and he’ll tell the truth. My lawyers have spoken to the club. Pique’s was concluded first simply because of the timing but the willingness of all the captains was always as it had to be” explained Alba. Busquets and Alba to follow Pique’s unselfish last-ditch salary cutBarca’s veteran was also very annoyed with the suggestions that his ‘actions’ led to Messi’s departure. “Apart from being the best ever, Messi was the one who understood me best, so imagine the efforts I would have made for him to stay. It’s not true [that Messi left because of a pay cut the captains rejected… the Messi stuff was separate from the captains, between the club and him. I can’t control everything that’s said, but I’ve been around. Nothing will surprise me. If 10 out of 10 news articles about Jordi Alba are negative, it’s normal that people think badly. I can’t stand being doubted. I’m not saying the club leaks things, just that you should ask the president. Our commitment is immense. I’m going to help Barcelona as much as possible. Not just this season, but in previous seasons, the commitment is infinite. It annoys me that it is questioned”
