MESSI TELLS BARCA: I’M OFF!
LIONEL MESSI has told Barcelona via fax that he wants to leave the club on a free transfer this summer. The extraordinary development potentially puts the 33-year-old within reach of a dramatic move to Manchester City and a reunion with Pep Guardiola. The Argentine journalist close to the player, Veronica Brunati, broke the story last night and it was subsequently confirmed by sources close to the Catalan club.
Messi’s discontent is nothing new but the possibility of a free transfer is. The suggestion is that Messi believes a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away for nothing is still valid because the Covid-affected season ended in August
and not May. Barca say the deadline for Messi to leave for free passed in June and will contest his argument that the deadline changed when the season was rearranged after lockdown. Messi is supposed to report for the new season on Sunday for a scheduled coronavirus test but has no intention of meeting up with new coach Ronald Koeman or attending Monday’s subsequent first training session. The bombshell opens the way to three very different scenarios: The club could simply point to Messi’s 700million euros (£630m) release clause and stick to their belief that his chance to leave on a free passed in June. They could accept he wants to go and open negotiations to buy out the final year of his deal as they are doing with Luis Suarez. Or Messi’s move could spark outrage among fans and a vote of no-confidence in president Josep Bartomeu forcing elections. There is, however, a growing belief that at least part of the club’s board want Messi to leave. Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta accused Bartomeu of wanting to sell Messi in a tweet yesterday. ‘Poor Barca in the hands of these incompetents,’ he said. Messi costs the club close to 100m euros gross (£90m) a year with tax payments. The pandemic has left Barcelona fearing a 300m euros (£270m) hole in revenue for next season.