Who will continue his Legacy? 3 players that can replace Messi at Barcelona

For the first time in 18 years, FC Barcelona is going to start a season without having Lionel Messi on their books. The Catalan club has had the good fortune to count on the services of the Argentine metronome for so long and the way they play is moulded around him. However, the club announced on Thursday that the player would be leaving the Nou Camp this summer after the club fell into a financial crisis. We'll look at 3 players within the club that can replace Messi at Barcelona. 

Memphis Depay: This is the obvious replacement for Lionel Messi. Even though the Netherlands international joined the Catalan with the hope of playing alongside Messi, now he would have to take up the mantle of the creative force in the team. This is a role he is familiar with as he is the creative spark with the Dutch National team and at Lyon before completing his move to Barcelona. With Messi leaving, more responsibility will fall on the player who completed a free transfer to the club. 

Coutinho: When Barcelona paid £142m for the transfer of Phillipe Coutinho from Liverpool in 2018, they had the mind of replacing Neymar. The Brazilian is a versatile attacker that can play as a winger, an attacking midfielder or as a supporting striker. His versatility means he can fill up many roles in the Barcelona team and take up the creative workload. His decent output in Liverpool and with the Brazilian national team are markers that he can fill the Messi role in Barcelona.

Ansu Fati: He is the most likely and also the most unlikely person to replace Messi. Last season, Fati showed significant promise of being the best player to have come out of La Masia since Messi himself. However, his season was cut short by injury. With Coutinho having flattered to deceive so far at Barcelona and Depay still an unknown quantity, there is the chance for Fati to take the bull by the horns. Fati has played and excelled in this Barca team and he has already broken some amazing records. He also has age on his side and would most likely out-stay both Coutinho and Depay at the Nou Camp. It would be poetic justice for another La Masia teenager to replace the greatest La Masia teenager ever.