The end is waiting, the stalemate in the Messi-Barcelona relationship. Lionel Messi has decided to stay in Barcelona next season to meet the contract quota.
In an interview with Goal.com on Friday, Messi himself said that he will stay in Barcelona for the 2020-21 season. However, it has become clear that he is going to stay in Camp Nou against his will.
“I thought and I was sure I could leave the club if I wanted to. The president always said, "At the end of the season, I can decide if I'm going to stay or not."
In a fax message on August 25, Messi decided to leave Camp Nou on a free transfer, enforcing a clause in the agreement. However, Barcelona claims that the deadline to implement the clause expired on June 10. As a result, according to the agreement, he will have to stay until the end of the 2020-21 season, or he will have to pay a full 600 million euros for the release clause.
On August 30, La Liga also voted in favor of Barcelona's claim. Reviewing the contract, the Spanish top league authorities said that the condition of fulfilling Messi's contract at the club is still in effect.
In response to La Liga's comments, his father and agent Jorge Messi issued a counter-statement on Friday, claiming that Messi's review was "wrong". However, the statement did not say whether there would be an Argentine star in Barcelona next season.
The tensions between the two sides began after nearly two decades of strained relations. Sometimes the news comes in the media, Messi wanted to say goodbye to the talks, but Barcelona did not.
Finally last Wednesday they sat down to discuss. The Argentine star was represented by his father and agent Jorge Messi, brother Rodrigo and a lawyer. The Catalan club was represented by President Josep Maria Bartomeu and official Javier Bordas.
Although no solution was found in that meeting, there are indications that they may sit down again later. It also raises hopes of resolving issues outside the court.
Messi's words proved that. He decided to leave the club he joined at the age of 13, where he grew up, became one of the best footballers in the world, wore a jersey that won a record six-time Footballer of the Year award, and did not want to end his sweet relationship with his favorite address.
"I will never go to court against my favorite club. That's why I decided to stay in Barcelona. "
