90min

Twitter Reacts as Lionel Messi Confirms Decision to Stay & Slams Barcelona Hierarchy

By Tom Gott

Messi will remain at Camp Nou for another year
Messi will remain at Camp Nou for another year / DeFodi Images/Getty Images
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Se queda.

That was the message delivered by Lionel Messi on Friday, bringing an end to a hectic few weeks which has seen the world go from 'OMG Messi is leaving Barcelona' to 'well, obviously he was never going anywhere'.

Well, it was a fun ride while it lasted.

Messi sat down for an interview with Goal to reveal he had chosen to stay at Camp Nou, also throwing in that he is still upset with president Josep Maria Bartomeu, while criticising his leadership at the club.

It made for particularly brutal reading (which is always fun), and it will only increase the frustration towards Bartomeu from the entire fan base.

As you'd expect, Twitter was loving it.

It was an... intriguing way to announce his decision. No holds barred.

A lot of fans couldn't understand why Messi would even want to stay. The team had just been drubbed 8-2 by Bayern Munich and look to be falling apart at the seams, but Messi appears ready for the fight... for some reason.

Blink twice if you need help, Leo.

Messi's not the only one who needs sympathy. Spare a thought for Manchester City, who found themselves caught up in all the drama.

Pep Guardiola was tipped to bring Messi over to the Etihad, with talk of bids ranging from £0 to £600m, and there was a period in which plenty of fans were convinced the deal was happening. Messi was coming.

Yikes.

When fans were done roasting Bartomeu, City, Barça and everything else, it was time for some to celebrate.

Perhaps the greatest player on the planet had just decided he is going to stay at the club he loves for another year at least, and that'll help soothe the pain for a little while.

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