Lionel Messi's surprise decision to leave Barcelona has dealt a blow to the club's restructuring plans even before it began. Shortly after the 2-8 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Barcelona said it wanted to make "profound changes to the first team."

Unfavourable changes

Barcelona was basing its revamp on Messi, hoping he would help the team rebuild with new players and a new coach. But the type of changes the team began implementing may have actually turned him away. Messi hasn't been happy with club directors all season, and he apparently also didn't like when incoming coach Ronald Koeman began telling some key players they were not in his plans.