Barcelona forward Lionel Messi took to social media to post a heart-warming, yet an absolute acerbity message following Luis Suarez's departure from the club. The Uruguayan, on Thursday, completed his €6 million (£5.5m) move to Atletico Madrid, signing a two-year deal after both the teams came to terms on a deal, and the move left not only Messi but former Barca players like Dani Alves, Samuel Eto'o and even Cesc Fabregas in a state of disarray.

Taking to Instagram, the Barcelona captain wrote an emotional message for his former teammate, while also taking a jibe at the board, saying that although he deserved a better sending off, nothing that the board does now surprises him anymore.

"It is going to be so strange seeing you in another shirt, and even stranger to have to play against you," Messi wrote.

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Ya me venía haciendo la idea pero hoy entré al vestuario y me cayó la ficha de verdad. Que difícil va a ser no seguir compartiendo el día a día con vos, tanto en las canchas como afuera. Los vamos a extrañar muchísimo. Fueron muchos años, muchos mates, comidas, cenas... Muchas cosas que nunca se van a olvidar, todos los días juntos. Va a ser raro verte con otra camiseta y mucho más enfrentarte. Te merecías que te despidan como lo que sos: uno de los jugadores más importantes de la historia del club, consiguiendo cosas importantes tanto en lo grupal como individualmente. Y no que te echen como lo hicieron. Pero la verdad que a esta altura ya no me sorprende nada. Te deseo todo lo mejor en este nuevo desafío. Te quiero mucho, los quiero mucho. Hasta pronto, amigo.

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"You deserved a sending-off fit for what you are: one of the most important players in club history, both for what you did for the group and individually - not the one they gave you.

"But it is true that at this point nothing surprises me."

Joining the fray was former attacker, Neymar, who said, "Incredible how they do things.” Former midfielder Cesc Fabregas also expressed his discontent and even Samuel Eto'o threw a few words. "Son, you can't BUY class. Look after yourself and think about you." Dani Alves, who played for Barcelona between 2008 to 2016, said, “Unfortunately, that is reality from a long time. It is only confirmed year after year! It’s not about winning or losing, we know a lot about that, it’s about respect and they don’t know that [about that]! Keep it up, somehow we’re there.”

Reacting to the messages, Suarez said that he will always be thankful to Messi.

“Thank you, friend, for your words, but thank you for being the way you are, for what you were from the first day with me and my family,” he wrote.

“I will always be grateful to Messi the human - funny and sentimental - because everyone knows the player.

“Do not forget what I told you: ‘Continue enjoying yourself and demonstrating that you’re number one’, and don’t let two, three or four tarnish the giant that you are for the club and for the world of football.

“I love you very much, my friend, and we are going to miss you five.”

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Jewel Samad

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BarcelonaLuis Alberto Suarez Diaz - ForwardLionel Andres Messi Cuccittini - ForwardNeymar Da Silva Santos Junior - Forward La Liga