Barcelona favorites to sign Aguero. Is the club becoming a retirement home?

Barcelona has emerged as favorites to sign Sergio Kun Aguero. The Argentinian striker’s contract with Manchester City expires at the end of June 2021. Faced with the prospect of getting little playtime in the newly crowned Premier League champions next season, Aguero has decided to part ways with the club. Indeed, the citizens’ record goalscorer, who has garnered 258 goals in 387 appearances, only mastered 18 outings this season, scoring four goals.

Sergio Aguero, City's record goalscorer, set to leave the club. (Image: Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero, City’s record goalscorer, set to leave the club. (Image: Getty Images)

With Aguero being 33 years old when the next season commences after the European tournament, is Barcelona turning into a retirement home? Sure, if Aguero can avoid injuries, he is still one of the best strikers in the world and would improve the Catalan club’s team. However, the question of the average age of the Barcelona squad comes into play. While at first glance, the club boasts of their youngest roster in 7 seasons, averaging just 25.5 years, most of their first team players and the backbone of the team are aging.

Aguero could reunite with Argentinian team mate Messi at Barcelona. Image: (Jaime Reina /AFP via Getty Images)
Aguero could reunite with Argentinian team mate Messi at Barcelona. Image: (Jaime Reina /AFP via Getty Images)

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Barcelona favorites to sign Aguero. A veteran joining an aging squad.

Barcelona certainly has a bright future ahead. They have many talented young players with great potentials. Half of their 24-man squad in La Liga this season is aged 25 or below. This list includes Lenglet (25), Junior Firpo (24), De Jong (23), Dembélé (23), Aleñá (22), Matheus Fernandes (22), Araujo (21), Riqui Puig (21), Trincao (20), Dest (20), Ansu Fati (18) and Pedri (17). However, they are pretty inexperienced and can’t be relied upon over a season. The backbone of the team is either 30+ or approaching that number. They are Umtiti (26), Coutinho (28), Ter Stegen (28), Sergi Roberto (28), Braithwaite (29), Griezmann (29), Pjanic (30), Neto (31), Jordi Alba (31), Sergio Busquets (32), Leo Messi (33) and Piqué (33).

Barcelona's squad a mix of inexperienced youngsters and aging veterans. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Barcelona’s squad a mix of inexperienced youngsters and aging veterans. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

While there are a few players in the world who don’t seem to be held back by age, that is usually an exception. Most players struggle with injuries and fitness after hitting 30, especially if they got into the first team as teenagers. As such, Barcelona emerging favorites to sign Aguero doesn’t reflect well from a squad building point of view.

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Messi bids farewell to Suarez

Messi coined an emotional message to his six-year-long teammate Luis Suarez. Recently, Luis Suarez officially joined Atletico Madrid from Barcelona. In his Instagram post, he expressed how much he would miss his friend Luis Suarez.

“Adios, mate!”

Messi coined an emotional farewell message to his six-year-long teammate Luis Suarez. Recently, Luis Suarez officially joined Atletico Madrid from Barcelona. In his Instagram post, he expressed how much he would miss his friend Luis Suarez.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFjb7KrCMBg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Moreover, he expresses his disbelief that he will have to play against Suarez, that is vs Atletico Madrid. It is not always that players leave a team to join their rivals. However, Griezmann did the same, so did Robin Van Persie. On the other hand, we have some loyal club players who have stuck by their team throughout a good part of their careers. Totti comes to mind.

Luis Suarez and Messi have, in the past, severally went out on vacations together. Such interactions signify the bond between the two families. These players have spent time together, not just on the pitch but outside the Nou Camp. As a result, Messi, in his farewell message to Suarez, he expressed how much he would miss Suarez’s family and also the moments they shared. Indeed, strong bonds!

Suarez and Messi families chilling. Photo Credits: Lionel Messi
Photo Credits: Lionel Messi

Moreover, Suarez, in a presser, said that he would miss his friends. They made him happy. About Messi, he expressed a lot of admiration and respect for him. Both for his prowess in the field and their interactions outside the pitch. Moreover, he said that since he was not in the coach’s plans, he decided to leave the club. Furthermore, he rebuked the management for, in a way, not respecting his choice to leave. His transfer to Atletico was not that smooth.

During his run in Barcelona, Luis Suarez made 283 appearances for Barcelona. He scored 198 goals and made 109 assists.

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Messi bids farewell to Luiz Suarez, as the Uruguayan joins Atletico Madrid officially.
Luis Suarez and teammates posing with trophies they have won together. Photo Credits: Lionel Messi

Trophies

  • La Liga titles – 4
  • Copa del Rey – 4
  • Champions League – 1
  • Club World Cup – 1
  • UEFA Super Cup – 1
  • Spanish Super Cup – 2

Personal Awards

  • Golden Boot – 1
  • Pichichi – 1
  • Club World Cup Golden Ball – 1
  • 3rd highest club goalscorer

From the stats, he has undoubtedly had a good run. Indeed, if Messi’s farewell message to Suarez is anything to go by, the Argentine will miss his fellow South American. “Adios, mate!”

Messi coined an emotional message to his six

Fans React on the News of Messi Leaving Barca

messi-dundafootball

After the news broke that Lionel Messi was leaving Barcelona, groups of angry fans met outside Barcelona offices demanding the club president’s resignation. The fans gathered to express their displeasure.

Messi had sent a burofax to the club asking them to activate a clause in his contract. This will enable him to leave the club on a free transfer this summer. The free transfer news has attracted most of the clubs in the premier league. The fans marched to Barcelona club’s stadium Camp Nou to voice their displeasure with the club. The fans believe that Barcelona club president Joseph Maria Bartomeu played a significant role in Messi’s decision.

Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich: Bayern thrash Barca to reach Champions League semi-finals

Bayern thrash Barca to reach Champions League semi-finals

Bayern Munich thrashed Barcelona 8-2 last evening in Lisbon to proceed to the Champions League semi-finals.

 

Both teams scored in the first seven minutes, but Bayern later took control of the game beating Barca 4-1 in the first half and scoring four more goals in the second half.

 

Bayern’s Philipe Coutinho and Muller netted twice each as Gnabry, Perisic, Lewandowski and Kimmich also scored. Barca’s two goals came from David Alaba’s own goal in the first half and a goal from Luis Suarez.

 

Many predicted Bayern’s victory considering their recent form, but scoring eight goals against a big club like Barcelona was not anticipated. The German champions mercilessly attacked Barcelona from the start to the end of the match.

 

The game between Man City and Lyon will determine who will face Bayern in the semi-finals. The two clubs are now fully aware of what they will be up against if any of them qualifies to the semi-finals.

 

Messi, image via SkysportsMessi not happy at Barcelona

One could say Messi was disappointed by his team-mates in last evening’s match although he was not at his best.

 

Of recent, there have been rumours of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner leaving Barcelona, but the claims are unfounded. Messi hasn’t won a trophy for Barca this season, and a new challenge for him would probably be for the best.

 

Setien not the best man for the job

Barcelona’s defeat followed the sacking of Quique Setién after he failed to lead Barca into Champions League victory (according to Fabrizio Romano). Setien future at Barcelona was put to question when he did not win the Laliga title.

 

Setien’s poor management forced Barcelona to cut short his contract that was to run till June 2022. As a Barca coach since his appointment in January, Barcelona was knocked out of the Copa del Rey, lost Laliga title and now knocked out of the Champions League.

 

His appointment as the club’s manager back in January was a surprise to many as he had only managed Las Palmas and Real Betis in Spain’s first division.

Featured Credit Image: Skysport