Pep Guardiola’s Support and the Olympic Journey that Defined Messi’s Barcelona Era

When Pep Guardiola assumed the managerial role at Barcelona, Lionel Messi found himself in a peculiar situation. Despite his unhappiness, it wasn’t due to animosity towards the new boss; rather, it stemmed from the fact that he was initially denied the opportunity to participate in the Olympics in Beijing.

Joan Laporta, then president of Barcelona, had different plans. He wanted Messi for the crucial Champions League qualifier against Wisla Krakow and waged a legal battle against the Argentine Football Association to keep him at the club.

Messi, however, was determined to join his international teammates in China and made his discontent known. In his own words later reported by the Daily Mail, “I was unbearable, letting them [Barca chiefs] know if I couldn’t go, this would be how I was going to be.”

In the end, it was Pep Guardiola who played a pivotal role. Despite initial resistance from others, Guardiola granted Messi permission to leave after a pre-season friendly against Fiorentina. Messi recalled Guardiola’s words to TyC Sports, saying, “He said to me: ‘You want to go, don’t you? Well, you’ve got my permission. The only condition is that a member of our staff goes with you to look after you.'”

Messi’s journey to the Olympics concluded with a golden medal, symbolizing not only his triumph on the international stage but also the supportive relationship with Guardiola that became a defining chapter in his Barcelona career.