For supporters of FC Barcelona, the idea of Lionel Messi in another club’s kit is essentially unfathomable. He’s been with Barcelona since he was 13 years old and developed into, well, the greatest soccer player to ever play the game.
So, when Messi — fresh off an embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich — demanded to exercise his opt-out clause this week, Barcelona fans have not been taking the news well.
On Wednesday, a large group of supporters gathered around Barcelona’s stadium, Camp Nou, to beg Messi to stay with the club and protest club president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s handling of the situation. At around 9 p.m. in Barcelona, supporters stormed an exit gate to gain access to the Camp Nou grounds.
OJO Un grupo de aficionados entran en grupo al Camp Nou. El personal de seguridad no puede pararles. Van a por Bartomeu que está dentro. TENSIÓN EN EL CAMP NOU. Han tenido que intervenir los Mossos d’Esquadra #fcb #fcblive pic.twitter.com/dbilPntNcR
— David Ibáñez (@DavidIbanez5) August 26, 2020
Security could only watch as the large group of Barcelona fans entered the grounds, which had closed to the public earlier in the day.
The fans evidently wanted to confront Bartomeu who was working at his Camp Nou office that night.
Barcelona fans breaking into Camp Nou to get to the offices where Bartomeu is https://t.co/K4QfCsmyUT
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) August 26, 2020
Whether Messi will be able to actually leave Barcelona is a complicated legal question, but if it does happen, we already know that Barcelona fans will be devastated.
