The implications of one of the biggest and most beloved names in the club’s history, Lionel Messi, leaving Barcelona are still being felt by the Catalan entity. The Argentine’s absence is clearly being felt, as the team has struggled a lot on the pitch since his departure in 2021, and has won only one La Liga title without him.
Furthermore, his exit has also drastically impacted the club’s economy, while the fans were also left broken-hearted to see such an icon leaving the club where he had spent all his senior career up to that point.
One way in which Messi’s sporting, economic, and emotional legacy at the club could have lived on even after his departure was through the number 10 shirt, which is currently without an owner at FC Barcelona, after its last wearer, Ansu Fati, left the club to play on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion.
According to a report from SPORT, keeping in view the emotional and economic implications of having a player with the number 10 shirt, Barcelona are looking to find an occupant for this number, and have two individuals in mind to bestow this honor.
Firstly, there is Lamine Yamal, who has shown this season that he deserves to be seen as the heir of Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Like the Argentine, he has emerged from the club’s subsidiary, and is clearly the most differential player in the current team.
One can easily foresee shirts with Yamal’s name and the number 10 on the back to be selling like hotcakes in stores throughout the world, which provides an economic incentive to Barcelona to give this number to the 16-year-old winger.
However, because of the Catalan club’s problems with FFP, it is not actually clear whether Yamal can have a first-team number for the next season. Furthermore, there is the possibility of the youngster feeling an increased pressure while donning this mythical number, which can cause the club to look towards another candidate.
This second candidate would be the Manchester City playmaker, Bernardo Silva, who is a much more proven player than Yamal, but one who is yet to sign for Barcelona. Getting him is currently very complicated for the Blaugranes because of their FFP problems, even though he himself is keen to join Xavi’s team.
There are other possible candidates, for this honor as well, especially in case it is not possible for Barcelona to give this shirt to either of these players.
Ansu Fati can get this number when he returns from his loan, but with his future far from certain at the Catalan club and his performances not entirely satisfactory at Brighton, this is a very distant possibility.
