According to Onda Cero journalist Alfredo Martinez, Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he wants to leave the club.
Messi sent a fax to Barcelona on Tuesday afternoon, informing them of his wish to leave. The decision taken by the Argentine is said to be final and he won’t attend any more COVID-19 tests or training sessions with the club. The Barça captain wants to activate the clause that would allow him to terminate his contract unilaterally and leave Camp Nou.
Catalan outlet RAC1 report that Barcelona have confirmed that they have been notified by Messi of his decision and asked to accept the clause to terminate his contract. Messi’s contract expires next summer and the clause in his contract allows him to walk away for free as long as he communicates that decision.
The club says he had until June 10 to terminate the contract, but Messi’s representatives are set to argue that the deadline should be set on August 31, due to the exceptional circumstances of the 2019/20 season. It is now up to the legal teams involved to decide. The Barça board have called an emergency meeting and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is under more pressure than ever.
