Barcelona player Jordi Alba announced his departure from the team at the end of the current season, a year before the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, and this departure coincides with the possibility of Argentine star Lionel Messi, Saint-Germain player, returning to the Camp Nou.
This was preceded by Sergio Busquets announcing his departure at the end of the current season, amid talk about the possibility of Busquets and Alba moving to the Saudi League and the great offer that was allegedly made to Messi from Al Hilal Saudi Arabia, which gives him 400 million euros per season.
However, those close to Alba – according to the Catalan newspaper “Sport” – denied the possibility of his move to Saudi Arabia for family reasons, despite media reports that linked him to the Saudi League.
Alba’s departure may be very beneficial to Barca, because he receives the highest salary in the team, and even surpasses Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, and his departure helps the team comply with the League’s fair financial play regulations, and then the possibility of Messi’s return to the team may become greater.
These two possibilities are on the table, although coach Xavi Hernandez said, “Things are open and nothing has been decided yet; Messi’s return depends on a lot of things.. He is an exceptional player and my friend, and we have to move forward to make sure that this can happen.
It is noteworthy that Alba – who is no longer Xavi’s first choice in the left-back position with the presence of Alejandro Balde – played 458 games with Barca, during which he scored 27 goals and provided 99 assists, and formed a distinguished duo with Messi, his close friend.
Alba, 34, joined Barcelona in the summer of 2012 from Valencia, and since that day he has become a key player and a pillar in the achievements of “Barca” in the last decade.
The former Spanish international won 18 titles with “Barca” during 11 years:
- 6 titles in La Liga
- Champions League title
- Title in the Club World Cup
- 5 titles in the King’s Cup
- European Super Cup title
- 4 titles in the Spanish Super Cup
He also won the European Nations League with the Spanish national team, and next Sunday the farewell match for Busquets and Alba will be at the Camp Nou.
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