Barcelona’s captain, Lionel Messi, has broken off negotiations to extend his contract with the club and, according to reports from Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, is ready to leave the Catalans when his current contract expires in 2021.
Sources confirmed ESPN’s Moises Llorens that Messi should be upset about Barcelona’s front office because media reports leaked that seemed to blame him for events at the club, such as the dismissal of coach Ernesto Valverde in January, and that he is frustrated with the lack Squad quality.
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Messi and his father Jorge had started discussing the renewal of Messi’s last contract with the club, which was signed in 2017, but they no longer want to continue negotiations, according to the Cadena Ser report.
The Argentine representatives and Barcelona did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
Messi, who turned 33 last month, scored his 700th career goal against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The milestone ended with a disappointment, however, when Barca finished the game 2-2 to keep the Spanish title.
Barca are four points behind Real Madrid in the title race, five games remain after Real defeated Getafe 1-0 on Thursday.
Messi, who was previously known for his shy personality outside the field, made his criticism of the club more vocal last year.
In January, he beat sports director Eric Abidal, who had hinted that players were involved in Valverde’s dismissal.
In an interview with the Mundo Deportivo newspaper in February, Messi said the team was not good enough to win this season’s Champions League.
Then in April. Messi criticized the board for not being willing to accept a pay cut to resolve the team’s financial difficulties during the coronavirus pandemic.
Reuters information has been used in this story.
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