There have been suggestions in the last few weeks that superstar Lionel Messi is happy at Barcelona both with his form and the club as a whole. This rumour comes up at a time when Barcelona have been going through crisis after crisis. After investigation surrounding the arrival of Neymar for the last few months, the club have been knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage. They suffered this 2-1 defeat on aggregate against Atletico Madrid that prevented from reaching their eighth consecutive semifinal.
Messi was largely anonymous in the match, as Barcelona appeared to play a tactics that did not suit him in both legs of the semi-final. As a result, there have been rumours that the superstar, who only recently signed a long-term contract, is unsettled at the club. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has been quick to deny such rumours by saying that Messi is not worried about the season unfolding in the worst possible manner. After the Champions League exit, Barcelona suffered a major setback in their ambitions to retain the league title after the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Granada.
Andoni Zubizarreta also chose to be conscious with his words when it came to the future of manager Martino, with whom the fans are displeased after the latest round of results.
“There is nothing wrong with [Messi]. He is happy with the club and with his teammates. His problem is that he has spoiled us. He is happy, training well, physically fine. He knows that football sets you challenges every week. Talks on his new contract are going reasonably well,” said the sporting director. “To fulfil his contract is to fulfill his contract. [Martino] has said he will do that. [Pep Guardiola] told me he would not be staying in May,” said Zubizarreta regarding Martino.