Barcelona fans need to prepare for a rough rebuilding stretch with Messi on the verge of leaving

Barcelona’s struggles have been present far before the team’s embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. 

It’s been a week to forget for Barcelona and its fans all over Catalonia. After blowing a 3-0 lead to Liverpool in the Champions League semifinals last year, the giants were eliminated from the tourney this year with a downright shocking 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the quarters.

Since that defeat, reports have surfaced out of Spain stating Lionel Messi could end up leaving the club, and manager Quique Setién has been fired. The club wasted no time signing his replacement, with coach Ronald Koeman taking over.

However, while replacing managers might be a step in the right direction for Barcelona, fans need to prepare themselves for a rebuild over the next 2-3 years. That much is clear.

Barcelona fans need to start preparing for life without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez

For starters, Messi is now 33 years old. He is a legend in Catalonia and will surely have a statue built in his honor once he leaves town. However, it’s looking like he may end up leaving town before many expected, as he’s been linked with several European clubs in the past week.

In addition to Messi potentially leaving, the club needs to prepare for life without other aging starters, which includes Luis ‘Lucho’ Suarez. The Uruguayan striker is also 33, and while he scored an impressive goal against Bayern Munich, it came in that 8-2 defeat. Suarez has certainly lost a step when it comes to quickness, which was showcased at times throughout the Champions League.

With Barca as a whole, the 8-2 loss to Bayern added to the insult of watching Real Madrid take home the La Liga title. There’s been plenty of unrest among the fanbase and it’s only gotten worse this summer.

Should Messi end up leaving in the near future, it would rock everyone emotionally. How can fans say goodbye to the man who has meant so much to the club?

It’s something everyone needs to start preparing for soon. And once Messi does leave, whether it’s this summer or not, we could see a rough 2-3 year stretch for Barcelona. Even thinking about them rebuilding is tough to imagine, but it could be coming.