Lionel Messi’s departure a shock considering all he has done for Barcelona and for me, says Sergio Busquets

Barcelona are nonetheless digesting the shock of dropping Lionel Messi however are usually not but counting out the possibility of an unlikely tilt for the Champions League, captain Sergio Busquets mentioned forward of Tuesday’s assembly at house to Bayern Munich.

Bayern dished out Barca’s worst ever European defeat little greater than a yr in the past after they thrashed the Catalans 8-2 within the quarter-finals of the 2019-20 competitors, resulting in Messi first declaring his intention to depart.

Messi’s departure for Paris St Germain got here a yr later because of the membership’s colossal monetary issues, regardless of the participant rowing again on his pledge to depart and getting ready to take a 50% pay reduce.

“It was a shock given every thing Leo did for Barca and for me,” midfielder Busquets advised a digital information convention on Monday.

“We felt quite a few sensations which had been troublesome to digest however we’ve got to attempt to transfer on. We’re solely in the beginning of the season and we’ve got to get used to enjoying with out Leo.”

Barca have undergone radical modifications since that seismic defeat by Bayern in 2020, parting not simply with Messi but additionally Luis Suarez, hapless coach Quique Setien after which president Josep Maria Bartomeu.