"I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's"
As someone from the US, I’m very upset and embarrassed that my country is hosting the World Cup and yet detaining and/or barring anyone of color—and some how the Scots—from entering the States to play in the very thing that is supposed to be open to the world. I hate that the world is seeing us like this and having to experience this dog shit administration fuck up everything and continue to be racist not just here, like we’re unfortunately used to, but to the world! Especially seeing all of the shit Senegal, Iran, the Somali ref, basically all of the African/muslim teams are going through during a time when they should be celebrating and not worrying about the US’s fucked up policies affecting them.
However, I am LOVING seeing the adorable reactions of international visitors experiencing US things and loving it. The German guy is adorable and he must be protected at all costs! The amazing experience the Algerian team and fans are having in Lawrence, Kansas town! I’m glad that there are good experiences for those coming here for the World Cup. I try not to think too hard that those enjoying their time here are majority white while those going through hell are POC…
I apologize to those coming here and having to experience Trump and his cult fucking things up but I hope you can meet us good US citizens who are friendly and welcoming to all, even down here in the south, and not hold Trump and his hateful, racist MAGA cult followers against us! At least other teams can revel in the fact that the USMNT won’t make it out of group stage so that’s a bit of karma to make up for the US’s bad behavior.
06/19/2026 Edit: My bad USMNT! You actually did make it out of group stage. Congrats men, you’re finally playing and winning like women! Let’s see if you can keep this up during the knockout round.
Sometimes it’s not about the money. We don’t know shit about her and her decisions so don’t pretend to.
Sometimes it’s about listening to your body, sometimes it’s about preserving your longevity, sometimes it’s about wanting something more. Sometimes it is about the money. But I don’t think this is.
But even if it was, she’s a footballer with a time limited career. I do not judge anyone for securing a future for them and their family.
I very much understand where you're coming from. And really at the end of the day it's her decision when to leave and we have to accept that. I think what bothers a lot of fans is the timing of the announcement and the way that this saga is ridiculously overshadowing the success the team just had. And with tomorrow being the last home match, in the middle of the week, mind you, where the attendance is usually at it's lowest and both camps (clubs and Alexia) not giving the fans enough time to grieve or to say goodbye, I think, it's ridiculous. And not to mention, she is going, most likely, to a club, which will never play UWCL in their history bc of Kang's multi ownership. Alexia might have her reasons and we might never understand them. As I've said before, the timing sucks, when it really should be all about the team who've won the quadruple together.
I hear you.
I think it’s important to recall the club’s absolute fucking terrible history here before some pin so much of this situation on solely Alexia. I’ve seen very few putting the appropriate ire on the club for creating this situation. One side has more responsibility/weight here, and I don’t believe it’s a singular player to announce their own farewell.
There are clear signs Torre is retiring. We’ve gotten no prior mention from the club.
We got no club legend send-off for Melanie or Jenni years back. Only a post on social media post CL. They both absolutely deserved more than that. Both were influential to the growth of Barcelona in the seasons they were here.
The handling of the Lieke situation was atrocious.
No proper goodbye opportunity for fans when it came to Rolfö or Jana.
The club and their terrible handling/announcing of those leaving the club is the common denominator here. It cannot be pinned on a player when the history speaks for itself from Barcelona’s own actions.
Still no announcement for Mapi who despite her tarnished reputation of late is a club staple? No announcement for Ona? If things have been wrapped up for months as indicated, why completely shit the bed on announcing ahead of the last match of the season as you mentioned?
I don’t disagree that the fans deserve better. Fuck, Alexia deserves better. Marta deserves better. Mapi and Ona, and Salma if she’s leaving, they all deserve better than this. For a club that leans so heavily into the legacy and family history every chance they get, they sure treat their players leaving like ugly 3rd cousins twice removed, don’t they?
And to be honest the only way I see Alexia leaving Barcelona for WSL is for a team that will NOT compete in CL against Barça. She’s not about to pull a Jona. Barcelona is the club of her heart…but what are you to do if that club no longer seems to love you back in the same capacity (ie if they’re viewing her age as an issue to signing her for 2-3 years when it sure as shit hasn’t been an issue for them so far)?
I think the drag out could be because her camp was hoping to leverage the CL win and consequent quadruple as proof she still has so much to offer the club despite the concern around her age. But maybe that changed nothing for the club and so here we sit with a last minute plug pull on arguable the best player to ever wear a Barcelona Femení kit. If so, shame on the club for letting things drag out to this point.
We’re all speculating, fully aware. But this woman is not one who makes decisions for her career on a whim. If she’s leaving Barcelona after all the overwhelming love she’s shown for the club and team in not just her track record on the pitch but also in her words and actions (Barça crest on her boots? On her jeans??), then maybe fans should trust that she can both love this club with her whole heart and be facing the reality that the club isn’t willing to value her the same way despite continuous performances proving her quality has only increased all simply because her age has tipped over 30?
Barcelona has a history of shoving out players because of age or vastly reducing their value upon renewal. It’s not new. It’s not hidden.
Irene despite still being Spain’s best center back and coming up huge for Barcelona in key games was not renewed at the same salary as she had previously. She took a pay cut to stay at Barcelona. And seeing the changes to her family this year, it’s no wonder why perhaps staying in Spain was the most ideal for her despite the reduction in pay.
Marta has been allowed to linger on the roster because she accepted a bench position and they needed at least a little depth for defense due to injuries/workload. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit to learn she’s paid less than some of La Masia kids signed on for this season. She’s a backbone to Barcelona both in advocating for better conditions throughout the years and mentoring these La Masia kids. Now that they are back to 1:1 under Fair Play ad have addressed the perceived depth issue with pulling up young ones, Marta is being let go in the most anticlimactic way for a player who has had just as big of an impact on growing the club as Alexia, albeit in a much less public fashion.
It’s absolutely terrible for the club to send her any of them out this way. I lay the vast majority of the blame for this media circus around renewals this season squarely at the club’s feet.
And what a way to end the reign of La Reina if this is the end.
Barcelona could have capitalized on this massively both for their own and fans’ benefits. When she leaves, Alexia deserves a send off to rival the Bilbao CL win. But if this is the time, like usual, the club let the bread and butter of the club stroll away for free. I wish I could be as incompetent at my job as those running the renewal/signing strategy for the club. Because holy shit I’d hang my hat on that job security.
This got long…I see where your thoughts are coming from, I do. I also work for a large corporation and have seen many times how optics can so easily favor a company with huge media mouthpieces when they are silent over a singular person also staying silent in the same fashion. We expect more integrity out of the workers/individual people than these somewhat faceless businesses who largely are the ones with all the power making moves behind the scenes where their true influence is never really ever exposed to the public.
Fucking preach! Best POV of this situation I’ve seen so far! You can hate her decision but you cannot deny her legacy or worth based on this decision nor can you just blame her and say she’s only doing this for the money because that’s a slap in the face to her.
Catherine O'Hara was one of the funniest actresses of her generation, maybe of all time. She made generations laugh from SCTV to Home Alone to Best in Show to Schitt's Creek, there was no one like her. She will be so dearly missed.
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