![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RSMO5XNWUCTKPONMFMTGBD2DDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d9c7430f75eff8ddf0ec55146327017c8cc7c69c96a7a88c298978ec306588c&width=400&height=225)
Lionel Messi endured a disappointing season at Barcelona. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFFCA5ARMOJ6IGP6P2BAZHBGFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=944b822a251e1b52d48d7b9dd0fae82e82d435897f88889f185f80c134697e23&width=400&height=225)
A Barcelona fan holds up a Lionel Messi shirt outside the Camp Nou after captain Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wishes to leave the club immediately, a source confirmed on Tuesday. Reuters
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Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gather outside Camp Nou Stadium to demand the resignation of the club's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SDO6LLQKBM3I3SEIG4EIH4IEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=de94d2f6d30cbca5b2efba9323b4eb1f5cf38f78e16a14c51bf9ffdef459bf8d&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gather outside Camp Nou Stadium. EPA
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Barcelona fans react outside the Camp Nou after captain Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wishes to leave the club. Reuters
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Barcelona fans gathered outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJVMAMMC7EVPH3WRCJEURZV3AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e76f3b61ba8a0c1cc14bf342188b8c183ea3585d65cb648b80410cf9e6bebfb&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans mingle outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MDLZQKP6F3EH55AZ5EEG7PTUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=109903ab1f471269ee836e3fd551b36a9a89df728d379e51a6bc70634aa3f145&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
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A Barcelona fan holds up a Lionel Messi shirt outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
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A Barcelona fan holds up a Lionel Messi shirt outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
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Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gathered outside Camp Nou Stadium. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/73T3HYGE4NJZQZSWPDYL4RQLLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f54be66cca3c58194dfca6426addfb6d327c387f133d6d0e22eabec13bcfb51f&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gather outside Camp Nou Stadium. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KD43LAZS42W6SKTEQY7OJ3BBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=98f4bccdb89040fa78395ea24143865187d41a9a6e3bd313203b0e8d85a242a5&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SBG5TANUIHMCHZMGFXIWIUNAHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a9a847d4cd867b7f2cd7c67e1f3769de8e42cb898ebb9aaaae010d0a19996773&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESWOITBXYPHIACM2JCD33F3OJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=80ce553e425a34a51a5f46421cb6cb3f65e8da55cd3901bd87286d7a0abfb64e&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RSMO5XNWUCTKPONMFMTGBD2DDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d9c7430f75eff8ddf0ec55146327017c8cc7c69c96a7a88c298978ec306588c&width=400&height=225)
Lionel Messi endured a disappointing season at Barcelona. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GFFCA5ARMOJ6IGP6P2BAZHBGFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=944b822a251e1b52d48d7b9dd0fae82e82d435897f88889f185f80c134697e23&width=400&height=225)
A Barcelona fan holds up a Lionel Messi shirt outside the Camp Nou after captain Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wishes to leave the club immediately, a source confirmed on Tuesday. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RYZ7GVW3AKGODLWKC5U3HB4F7I.jpg?smart=true&auth=bce19a70a9b02f037bb40ad1d099ce5adde5175ee08e2f8dadd0e24d67aeeefe&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gather outside Camp Nou Stadium to demand the resignation of the club's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7SDO6LLQKBM3I3SEIG4EIH4IEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=de94d2f6d30cbca5b2efba9323b4eb1f5cf38f78e16a14c51bf9ffdef459bf8d&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gather outside Camp Nou Stadium. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZY4FSN2GVLONHM6AJF3DED3QDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=27575831467f4969e95e69fb136fbd5d89dbd2300f39bf22190e7f8d38256b34&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans react outside the Camp Nou after captain Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wishes to leave the club. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LL42NNSVHMP7Z52H7I4CM6YDLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3fea6b08804e9bc32bfdbfd1567edae40942b02fd1304986b89c803d164004dd&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans gathered outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JJVMAMMC7EVPH3WRCJEURZV3AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e76f3b61ba8a0c1cc14bf342188b8c183ea3585d65cb648b80410cf9e6bebfb&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans mingle outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3MDLZQKP6F3EH55AZ5EEG7PTUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=109903ab1f471269ee836e3fd551b36a9a89df728d379e51a6bc70634aa3f145&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F57VYZSTGHSGRN3KP5HH4MEFCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=22818eab9db396ee093e21f7d26c25688085b2beb697dcd8c122ccca54590519&width=400&height=225)
A Barcelona fan holds up a Lionel Messi shirt outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7Z3YK6YSTXYFMCDTQDCGVHPK5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=30cf249eadf5e6c2338574f167d4a78a6a665a10ed69156b5bff3f68c5091c17&width=400&height=225)
A Barcelona fan holds up a Lionel Messi shirt outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HNKUUWG2QENMAJC6AANSVRBWQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2513722d76fd8ab2570ed5940bd7505d86ea11edfaff756900dbe557f4964790&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gathered outside Camp Nou Stadium. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/73T3HYGE4NJZQZSWPDYL4RQLLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f54be66cca3c58194dfca6426addfb6d327c387f133d6d0e22eabec13bcfb51f&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of FC Barcelona fans gather outside Camp Nou Stadium. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7KD43LAZS42W6SKTEQY7OJ3BBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=98f4bccdb89040fa78395ea24143865187d41a9a6e3bd313203b0e8d85a242a5&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
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Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESWOITBXYPHIACM2JCD33F3OJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=80ce553e425a34a51a5f46421cb6cb3f65e8da55cd3901bd87286d7a0abfb64e&width=400&height=225)
Barcelona fans are seen outside the Camp Nou. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RSMO5XNWUCTKPONMFMTGBD2DDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d9c7430f75eff8ddf0ec55146327017c8cc7c69c96a7a88c298978ec306588c&width=400&height=225)
Lionel Messi endured a disappointing season at Barcelona. EPA
Bitter battle lies ahead for Lionel Messi and Barcelona
Unprecedented schism between Barca and their superstar leaves Catalan club in chaos
![Ian Hawkey](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F96f52b9a-4555-4c17-8cff-6fc2526824d5.png?smart=true&auth=687abaf05f4cc86a26f3998a06318c496c949aa829c6b4f450a8511e4a3a5557&width=70&height=70)
Ian Hawkey
27 August, 2020
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