Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy suggested that Barcelona should appoint Lionel Messi as their next coach, rather than having to find someone else who lacks knowledge about the club.
Messi is a Barca legend, scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances at the highest level and winning 35 trophies during his 21 years with Catalonia. However, he was forced to leave Barcelona to become a free agent in the summer of 2021.
Messi will return to Barca
After two years playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Messi moved to Inter Miami last summer, where he scored 11 goals and created 5 assists in 14 appearances. Meanwhile, Barcelona is facing an uncertain situation at the moment. Standing fourth in La Liga after 22 matches, the club also knows that they need a new coach this summer.
Coach Xavi Hernandez recently confirmed that he will leave Barca at the end of the current season. The club has not yet announced a replacement and Murphy thinks Messi is the ideal candidate to take over Xavi’s hot seat.
Barcelona has always been the Argentine striker’s second home. Photo: GETTY.
The British football expert told TalkSPORT: “I will choose Messi to succeed Barca. I think immediately, the fans will support. Everything Messi touches becomes gold. Messi was born to do miracles. That certainly won’t stop at management. Barca should appoint Messi. Maybe not now but I’m confident Messi will return to Barca as the main coach. Messi enough to lead Barca.”
Barcelona endured a turbulent January, as they lost 1-4 to Real Madrid in the Super Cup final and were eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao (2-4). Coach Xavi also feels that he no longer receives support from fans like last season, when the Catalan team won the La Liga Cup and Super Cup.
Currently, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, former Bayern Munich strategist Hansi Flick, and coach Rafael Marquez have been mentioned as potential candidates .
Messi is capable of leading Barca, after coach Xavi parted ways this summer. Photo: GETTY.Revealing Messi’s future
Compared to some names that could become Barca’s coach in the future, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy does not seem to trust anyone like Messi. Furthermore, although the Argentine striker has not thought about leading Barca, he still sees his move to Inter Miami as a sign that Messi is gradually moving towards retiring from his football career.
Messi also once said that he plays for passion, for the team, not for individual titles, when he has collected all his achievements. But despite being a 36-year-old veteran, Messi continues to play strongly for the club and national team. The eighth Golden Ball award that Messi won in October 2023 is proof that he is still one of the best players in the world .
Star Messi has won 8 Golden Balls. Photo: GETTY.
However well Messi may be playing, there will come a time when he stops. In an interview with American Star+, Messi shared that his career path could go in another direction: “I really have no intention of becoming a coach. I like the role of sports director , building Build the team, accompany the coaches, but I’m not completely sure.”
