Lionel Messi Chooses His 'Successor'

Lionel Messi has reportedly chosen his successor: Ousmane Dembélé.

It's hard to imagine football without Messi, or indeed how anyone could possibly ever take over from the legend. It just seems that no one will ever match his level of skill. The bar has been set too high.

But it's reported that he's chosen Dembele to be his successor.

The Frenchman made the move from German giants Borussia Dortmund last summer, in a transfer reported to be an astounding £135.5m.

Dembele unfortunately pulled his hamstring in his first league appearance with Barca and was side-lined for four months as a result.

Since coming back, he scored an important and brilliant goal in Barcelona's Champions League tie against Chelsea. With this season drawing to a close, Dembele has netted four times in 20 appearances overall.

With Andres Iniesta leaving his beloved side at the end of the season, Messi will be left with even more work to keep Barcelona at the high level they're at, which it's vital a replacement is found.

It has been reported in Spanish outlet El Pais that the Argentina international sees Dembele as his successor and is already been working closely alongside the player and the Barcelona coaches to see his prodigy live up to the hype.

Messi has been looking closely at Dembele's off the ball movement and is of the belief that further training could truly tune the 20-year-old into a fine player for the future.

Dembele has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp, with Liverpool reportedly interested in bringing him in on loan, but away from his current side and away from Messi, Dembele would surely missing invaluable teaching from the world's best. It's experience money can'tFeatured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, Messi, Barca

Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot is a journalist and sports writer at SPORTbible. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan with a BA in English and Film. He is a football, snooker, and basketball enthusiast and has been published in the Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Set Pieces, Planet Football and the Morning Star. He’s the greatest thing to come out of Essex since Nick Frost.

@Jac_Talbot