BARCELONA, Spain (AP)– After dozens of titles, numerous objectives and numerous records, Lionel Messis incredible career at Barcelona could be coming to an abrupt end.
The divorce might turn unsightly, too.
Messi informed Barcelona on Tuesday that he wishes to leave after nearly twenty years at the club, having grown dissatisfied after a trophy-less season ended with an embarrassing loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Barcelona verified to The Associated Press that Messi sent the club a file expressing his desire to leave. But the club hinted that a legal fight might be coming and stated it wont immediately give the Argentina excellent his wishes.
Barcelona stated the document sent out by Messi referenced a stipulation permitting him to leave for complimentary at the end of the season. He and his teammates faced furious Barcelona fans who confronted them and slammed the team at the clubs training center after the team returned from Portugal.
Messi arrived at Barcelona as a teen in 2001, joining the clubs famous La Masia youth academy. He first-team debut occurred in 2003 as a 16-year-old, and since then he led Barcelona to 34 titles. He holds most specific records at the club, scoring 634 objectives and making 276 assists in 731 looks with the club.
Club president Josep Bartomeu had actually said he was positive that Messi would complete his career with Barcelona, and that he was an important part of incoming coach Ronald Koemans prepare for the team.
Koeman met Messi last week and the player apparently told the Dutchman that he saw himself more out than in at the club at that minute.
The coach reportedly had currently told other essential pieces of the squad that they were not in his plans, consisting of Luis Suárez, Arturo Vidal, Samuel Umtiti and Ivan Rakitic.
After the loss to Bayern, Barcelona revealed it would make “extensive” changes to the very first team and a “comprehensive” restructuring of the club. The modifications started with the shooting of coach Quique Setién a couple of days after the Champions League defeat in Lisbon, and new presidential elections were required March.
Spanish media stated an emergency board conference was anticipated to happen on Wednesday, when the club had actually already set up the official discussion of forward Francisco Trincão.
Messi shown up at Barcelona as a teen in 2001, joining the clubs famed La Masia youth academy. He first-team debut occurred in 2003 as a 16-year-old, and ever since he led Barcelona to 34 titles. He holds most specific records at the club, scoring 634 goals and making 276 assists in 731 looks with the club.
Former Barcelona defender Carles Puyol, who was the club captain during much of Messis career, tweeted his support to the Argentine.
” Respect and affection, Leo,” Puyol composed. “You have all my support, pal.”
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Azzoni reported from Madrid.
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The dispute centers around a clause in Messis agreement.
Barcelona said the file sent by Messi referenced a clause permitting him to leave totally free at the end of the season. However, the club stated the deadline for activating that provision expired in June which it would look for legal advice. Messis agreement likewise includes a 700 million euro ($ 826 million) buyout provision.
Due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish season would normally have actually ended in May however was pressed back.
If Messi can leave free of charge, he will have no lack of suitors. However, just a handful of clubs could reasonably manage to pay his wages even without a transfer cost– with mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City commonly seen as maybe the most likely destinations.
The 33-year-old Messi has actually won a record six Ballon dOr awards throughout his time at Barcelona as the top gamer in the world, and has assisted the club win 10 Spanish league titles and four Champions League crowns.
Messis statement came 11 days after Barcelonas embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern in the Champions League quarterfinals, among the worst defeats in the players profession and in the clubs history.
The defeat capped a difficult season for Barcelona– the first without a title given that 2007-08– and ignited one of its worst crises ever.
Messi had been outspoken about his dissatisfaction with a few of Barcelonas choices this season, talking about the groups issues and objecting to club directors. Sporting director Éric Abidal, who was criticized by Messi, left the club last week.
Messi had been quiet considering that the loss to Bayern, though, raising doubts about his future. The defeat may have been the tipping point for the playmaker. He and his colleagues faced furious Barcelona fans who confronted them and slammed the team at the clubs training center after the squad returned from Portugal.
