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Lionel Messi Is Yet To Register An Assist In La Liga This Season

Lionel Messi Is Yet To Register An Assist In La Liga This Season

Lionel Messi has drawn a blank in terms of assists so far.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Lionel Messi has not had a great season by his lofty standards, having yet to register an assist in La Liga this term.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner broke the assist record in the Spanish top flight last season when he laid on 21 assists for teammates in addition to 25 goals.

But although he's assisted twice in the Champions League, Messi has surprisingly not directly set up a teammate in La Liga after 12 games.

Messi normally assists in his sleep with the most outrageous defence-splitting passes yet it hasn't quite happened in the early months of 2020/21 under Ronald Koeman.

Image: PA
Image: PA

That being said, fans have pointed out that Messi has still been highly productive - some feel that his key passes have not resulted in goals.

According to the statistics, Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and Martin Braithwaite have been guilty of missing 15 big chances between them.

The Blaugrana skipper and all-time top scorer has scored eight goals in 16 appearances in all competitions, with a fair few coming from penalties.

Having tried to leave in the summer before reluctantly agreeing to stay put at the Nou Camp, Messi continues to be linked with a move away and there are strong reports that PSG are in pole position to land him on a free.

His current contract expires in June and he is free to speak to clubs from January onwards.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Emili Rousaud, one of the presidential candidates in the Barcelona's elections, believes Messi will depart in the summer if he does not agree a hefty pay-cut.

"We'll have to sit down with Messi and ask him to make a salary cut," he told Catalan newspaper ARA.

"Right now, with things as they are, it's unsustainable. We'll ask him to make the sacrifice. If there's no agreement, then Messi will leave.

"Messi has written the most brilliant pages in the club's history. We have to honour our legends, but the reality is what it is.

I believe that things have to be said as they are. We can't fool our members. We'll make every effort to ensure he stays, but always with the interests of the club first."

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Topics: Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Lionel Messi, Barcelona news