Lionel Messi appears to have made a U-turn on his future at Barcelona - and has perhaps finally got over the pain partly caused by Liverpool.
The future of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner was hugely uncertain last summer, when Messi publicly declared his desire to leave the Nou Camp after falling out with the club’s hierarchy.
Barcelona had suffered heavy and disappointing defeats in the Champions League over the past three seasons, most notably at Anfield in May 2019.
In one of Liverpool’s greatest European nights, Jurgen Klopp’s men came from three goals behind to win 4-0 on the night and send Barcelona out of the competition.
The year before a similar situation happened away at Roma, and last season the La Liga giants lost 8-2 to eventual winners Bayern Munich in the quarter-final.
Speaking back in July, Messi referenced the Reds as he said: "I said a while ago that if we carry on like this it will be very hard for us to win the Champions League.
"We couldn't even win La Liga. I'm sure the fans are running out of patience because, playing like we have done, and after the Roma and Liverpool [where they lost big leads], we're not giving them anything."
And it was not the first time Messi had reflected on the long-term impact of the Anfield defeat.
Since the summer, things seem to have changed. Messi has been in fine form for Barcelona this season, scoring 14 goals in 22 appearances.
The Barcelona presidential elections are still to be concluded, and candidate Joan Laporta is now adamant Messi wants to remain at the club beyond this season, after finally resolving his dispute.
Laporta goes on to say that Messi is focused on bringing the Champions League back to the Nou Camp, a situation which could provide a problem for Liverpool should they meet later in the competition.
"Messi is now totally focused on catching Atletico Madrid in La Liga and playing the Paris Saint-Germain tie in the Champions League," Laporta is quoted saying in The Mirror.
"I see him more and more happy, he is enjoying it.
"I know that he wants to stay and I know that he will do everything in his power to stay as long as the club can offer him an offer that suits him."
