The announcement of the departure of Argentine star Lionel Messi - from the Spanish club Barcelona - ignited social networking sites, and excited football fans around the world.
The shocking news for the fans of the Catalan club constituted an opportunity for submerged clubs that sought to benefit from the media momentum, while a number of creative artists translated the concerns of the fans of the Argentine star into works of art.
A little-known English club commented on Barcelona's tweet, saying: "Hi Leo, we heard that you are available to sign a new team."
Hello, Leo đź‘‹
We hear you're available to sign for a new club đź‘€ https://t.co/zZzmshfEwM
— AFC Rushden & Diamonds (@AFCRD) August 5, 2021
England's Gisele wrote: "Do you like the NFL, Messi? If so, there is a contract ready for you from the club, see you soon."
✍️ |
Fancy the Vanarama National League North Lionel?
If so there's a contract ready for you at Nethermoor, see you soon.
#GAFC #GuiseleyTogether https://t.co/T2oQ8cuITw
— Guiseley AFC (@GuiseleyAFC) August 5, 2021
Meanwhile, a submerged American club offered the Argentine star to train with him, saying, "Hello Messi, if you are interested, we are conducting open trials this fall, and if things progress, we will register you for the new season."
Hey if you're interested, we are having open tryouts this fall.
If things progress we will sign you for the @USLLeagueTwo season!
#messi #leomessi https://t.co/GMWvSxbWaf
— Morris Elite SC (@morriselite) August 5, 2021
Clubs - such as Ireland's Kepentley, American Union of Omaha and Welshman - joined the race to sign Messi. British football commentator Callum Williams said, "Every league and team on the planet (even those on Mars) today will communicate with Messi's representatives."
Hey Leo – fancy a game at Stradbrook or Kilbogget Park
⚪️🟢 ⚽️ 🥅 https://t.co/N83N95sgWz
— Cabinteely FC (@Cabinteely_FC) August 5, 2021
📝 Our GM, @PSMJr10, just went to a meeting…then this was announced.
Coincidence?
🤫#WelcomeMessi https://t.co/6XuCPd4Viy pic.twitter.com/1qmkIe7iKE
— Union Omaha (@Union_Omaha) August 5, 2021
Following today's announcement we can now officially reveal the identity of 'Trialist M'
🔴⚪️ #WxmAFC https://t.co/xEz0qXxLri
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) August 5, 2021
On the other hand, plastic artists and painters interacted with the announcement of Messi's departure in their own way.
And one of the artists specializing in drawing on the sand posted - on his account on the Instagram website - a video clip showing his drawing of Messi in sand, where half of the Argentine star’s face appeared in its natural form and the other half was shaded in black, commenting on it, “Where will Messi go?”
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A post shared by FallingInSand (@fallinginsand)
Another artist - who specializes in drawing with colored rice grains - drew the Argentine star in a Barcelona shirt, and wrote in her comment on her Instagram post, "Messi is leaving Barcelona."
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A post shared by Alissa (@friedriceart)
In turn, Palestinian cartoonist Mahmoud Abbas shared a picture he drew of Messi wearing the Barcelona captain's armband and shouting at it, commenting on it, "The end of Messi's era with Barcelona."
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A post shared by 🎨 Mat's Drawing 🎨 (@mats.drawing)