Messi’s Future Role at Barca: Beyond Coaching, Valuable Contributions Await
In a recent interview with L’Equipe, Lionel Messi confirmed his intention to return to Barcelona in the future, putting to rest any coaching speculations. It appears Messi may wish to evade the emotional rigors of a managerial role, but there are still three significant positions he could fill upon his return to the club.
- Sporting Director: Mateu Alemany performed admirably as Barcelona’s sporting director from 2021 until his departure in September. Now, the mantle has passed to Deco, who must step into Alemany’s shoes. However, the prospect of Messi assuming the role in 2026 or thereabouts is intriguing. As a sporting director, Messi would play a pivotal role in shaping the club’s future, influencing player signings, financial decisions, and squad optimization. With his profound footballing knowledge, Messi could contribute significantly to building a formidable Barca team.
- Talent Scout: Barcelona recently welcomed Bojan Krkic into their technical staff, appointing him as a talent scout responsible for tracking emerging talents and monitoring the progress of Barca’s loaned players. Messi’s post-retirement career could seamlessly encompass this role. His ability to identify exceptional prospects, particularly in South America, would be an invaluable asset. Given his own experience as a top talent, Messi possesses the acumen to uncover and nurture young stars, potentially adding a treasure trove of talent to Barcelona’s ranks.
