There was no surprise or going back. Leo Messi, as he informed FC Barcelona on Saturday, did not appear this Sunday morning on the first day of the 2020-21 preseason. At 10:15 am he had the turn to pass the PCR test for the coronavirus, following the health protocol established by LaLiga, but the Argentine did not approach the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper de Sant Joan Despí, so he can be considered declared in absentia, although it seems that it takes a couple more days of absences for that term to be legally official.
Messi’s decision, although expected, returns the pulse against the club to the starting point, to Tuesday of the burofax asking for the letter of freedom to leave for free and, on the run, quite possibly to Manchester City, with the immediate response of Barcelona defending that the only possible reading of the contract is that it ends in 2021 and that it has a termination clause of 700 million.
In these six days there have been significant ups and downs that seem to confirm that the lawyers of the two parties are improvising on the fly. One day it seems that Messi has the legal reason and the next it is Josep Maria Bartomeu who seems to be protected by the law. The latest demonstration is what happened on Saturday night, when La Ser reported that Messi’s clause no longer existed, having signed it in 2017 on the occasion of its renewal until 2020, without being stipulated for the additional season until 2021 that Barcelona wants. enforce Messi.
In short, that the ’10’ could have a contract but no clause, a version that could invite a club to sign him already with a provisional transfer waiting for a judge to decide the amount to pay, but already with the threat of the 700 million. Barcelona denied it instantly, proclaiming that there are no bureaucratic doubts and LaLiga issued an official statement advising that the contract is clear: 2021 and clause in force.
It is hard to believe at this point that Messi can continue playing for Barcelona even if Bartomeu left office, as he offered. They will have to speak and for this, Jorge Messi, father and agent of the player, is already expected in Barcelona. To imagine, a transfer for 200 million and everyone is happy could be an option, but what club will want to make that expense now if it can have it for free within a year? Of course, a year of Leo is a long time and he is already 33. And nobody can be sure that in a few months he will think the same. And on the part of Barcelona, going down in history as the president who could not retain Messi and who ended up negotiating a sale would be almost a reason for exile. Of course, now Bartomeu can save the accounts and avoid possible personal ruin as guaranteed. The same for 200 before leaving … An infinite mess.
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