The relationship between Lionel Messi, talisman and symbol of FC Barcelona, and the club's board, reached a nadir on Tuesday when the Argentine informed his employers - by fax - that he wished to leave Camp Nou, for free.
Barca's record scorer feels he has been made a scapegoat for the team's poor performances in the recently concluded 2019/20 season, and wishes to bring to an end his near 20-year association at the club.
Messi, 33, believes he is entitled to leave on a free transfer, while Barca believe a deadline in his contract has passed and therefore any club wishing to sign him must buy him out of his contract for a cool €700 million (Dh3.039 billion).
Why does Messi want to leave?
The 33-year-old dropped a bombshell on Barcelona on Tuesday, informing them that he wants to leave the club immediately – and on a free transfer.
Messi, scorer of more than 630 goals for Barca, believes he and the rest of the squad have been unfairly targeted for the club's myriad problems, including the sacking of two coaches - Ernesto Valverde and Quique Setien - a refusal to defer wages during the coronavirus pandemic, surrendering La Liga title to Real Madrid as well as a humiliating exit to eventual winners Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
A meeting with new coach, Ronald Koeman, was said to be the last straw after the Dutchman told Messi his club privileges - the Argentine has long been accused of holding too much power in the dressing room - were over.
Why did he inform the club he wanted to leave by fax?
It may seem strange in the world of technological wonder that we live in that most football transfer dealings are ultimately signed off by fax machine. Messi actually served notice of his desire to leave the Spanish club by burofax, which is in effect a recorded letter. Barcelona replied the same, telling Messi they want him to stay.
Why does Messi think he can leave for free?
A clause in his contract allows him to walk away for free so long as he communicates that decision. Barcelona believe the deadline for that clause to be applied has expired, as he had to inform them of his decision before the end of May. But, given the extraordinary circumstances of the 2019/20 season dealing with an unprecedented shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Messi’s camp, who argue that the extended campaign officially ended after Sunday's Champions League final, are set to argue that the deadline should be set on August 31.
What has been Barcelona's reaction to that?
Barcelona are yet to react publicly but they continue to insist that Messi is an important part of Koeman’s plans. The Catalans are sure to dispute Messi's representatives argument of an extended deadline and that if he is to depart his official price is €700m. Messi’s contract expires next summer, suggesting they would be forced to negotiate with potential buyers before the forward is able to speak with potential suitors in January 2021.
Can Messi and Barca kiss and make up?
You can never say never, but it does seem that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner and his two decade association with one of the world's biggest clubs is coming to a bitter end. Fans gathered outside the club's stadium on Tuesday to protest and demand the resignation of president Josep Bartomeu. No Barca president will want to be remembered for letting the most important player in the club's history, one who has guided the club to 10 Liga titles, six Copa del Reys, four Champions Leagues and three Fifa Club World Cups, leave on such bad terms. They say no player is bigger than the club. But in Messi's case, that theory has never applied, until perhaps now.
Where next for Lionel Messi?
Check out our list of 10 potential destinations.
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MANCHESTER CITY: Relations between Lionel Messi and Barcelona are at an all time low following the club's record scorer submitting a request by fax stating he wishes to leave - on a free transfer. According to reports, an initial meeting between new coach Ronald Koeman and Messi did not go well, with the Dutchman telling the Argentine his privileges at the club where revoked. A reunion with former Barca mentor Pep Guardiola at City would seem an ideal fit, with the club's Abu Dhabi owners able to match both Messi's wage demands and his ambitions. The man with more than 700 goals to his name could be the missing piece of the puzzle that takes City to Champions League glory. EPA -
ARGENTINA: The romantic option would be for Messi to head back to Argentina and rejoin his hometown club in Rosario, Newell's Old Boys. Messi has regularly stated he would ideally love to play for his boyhood club Newell's again before he retires but has also added that security concerns over the safety of his three young children would leave him reluctant to make that move in the current climate. EPA -
ITALY: Despite their domestic dominance, Juventus again came up short in their quest for their own Holy Grail in the Champions League. While no one doubts Cristiano Ronaldo has been a success in Turin, the club are reportedly touting him to European rivals including Barcelona. Is there a parallel universe where Ronaldo and Messi swap clubs, and could it become a reality? AP Photo -
FRANCE: Neymar left Barcelona in 2017 determined to step out of Messi's shadow and prove he could be the best player on the planet. The Brazilian came close to a move back to Camp Nou in the summer of 2019, with Messi said to be pushing for his fellow attacker's return, before the move broke down. Could Messi and Neymar be reunited in Paris? Or will PSG jettison their Neymar experiment to lure Messi? The French champions are one of few clubs who can match the Argentine's exorbitant wage demands, but will the challenge of Ligue 1 excite him? AFP -
PREMIER LEAGUE: Messi is known to be a big fan of the Premier League, and national television network Cuatro claimed on Tuesday that Manchester United are making a serious attempt to lure the Argentine to Old Trafford. While Messi and his representatives believe he is entitled to a free transfer, the Spanish giants say that detail of his contract expired at the end of May and that they are holding him to his €700 million release clause. While no club is likely to trigger that, horse trading of several young players - Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford or Paul Pogba spring to mind - could bring Barca to the negotiating table. AFP -
SERIE A: Inter Milan are desperate to end Juventus' iron grip on the scudetto and club president Steven Zhang has reportedly already held talks with Messi's representatives even before the Argentine faxed in a transfer request on Tuesday. Several reports indicate that, should Messi move to San Siro, Lautaro Martinez, Inter's own Argentina international who at 23 is 10 years Messi's junior, will make the opposite move to Camp Nou. AFP -
MLS: Every club on the planet would love to have Messi if they had the finances, but few have the clout. If a move to Major League Soccer is considered then linking up with David Beckham's new Inter Miami FC franchise would seem a good fit. AFP -
QATAR: Barcelona legend Xavi has advised the board to do 'all they can to make Messi happy', which seems to have been roundly ignored. The former Barca midfielder, who acted as supplier in chief for a good few Messi goals during their time as teammates, distanced himself from the coach's job following Quique Setien's sacking, perhaps anticipating the malaise that was to follow. Now in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd, the lure of playing under Xavi - perhaps with a long-term view of following him back to Catalunya one day - could come into Messi's thinking. AFP -
JAPAN: Former Barcelona teammates Andreas Iniesta and Sergi Samper are already on the books at Japan's Vissel Kobe and a move to the J-League could appeal to Messi as he looks to wind down his career. Reuters -
CHINA: For a man whose annual salary is a reported £26 million, money may not be the motivating factor in any move for Messi. If he were to follow the well-trodden path of European and South American players and head to the Chinese Super League, it's probably fair to say he won't be taking a hit in the pocket. AFP
