And with regard to Messi, I was shocked to hear the news because I had assumed he would return to Barcelona. However, it's not a bad thing, in fact, it's a good thing that he made his decision that way because it means Barcelona won't be depending on him to come, and they will win the Champions League next season.
I too had assumed he would make the move back to Barcelona. I may have even hoped for it and was a little disappointed. But upon further thought, i think Messi might not be able to lead the team like he did. He's obviously not as good as he used to be and that doesn't mean he's not still an amazing player.
It's a good thing Messi didn't return to Barcelona. If Messi returns to Barcelona, I think they would be bound to depend on him and he might not be able to deliver as he used to. I think It's about time Barcelona moves on.