Madrid (AFP)
Lionel Messi, who has expressed his intention to leave FC Barcelona, was absent from the Catalan club's resumption training for next season, sources close to the club found on Monday.
After boycotting the Covid-19 screening session that players had to undergo on Sunday, the Argentine star once again did not appear at the Barça training center, where Ronald Koeman led from 5.30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. GMT ) his first training since his appointment as a new coach.
The standoff therefore continues between the N.10 and captain of FC Barcelona and the leaders of the Spanish club.
The six-time Ballon d'Or and his lawyers believe participating in Barcelona's pre-season schedule would contradict their argument that Messi no longer belongs to the club and wants to leave.
Tired of a nightmare season, between disappointing sporting results and repeated scandals, Messi communicated on Tuesday by Burofax (a type of registered mail which has legal value) that he wanted "unilaterally" to end his contract.
The Argentine wants to activate clause N.24 of his contract which binds him with Barça, which allows him to leave freely every summer ... on condition of invoking it before June 10.
Faced with the atypical nature of this season interrupted by the pandemic between March and June, the Messi clan considers that this clause is still valid.
Lionel Messi, 33, arrived at Barcelona at the age of 13, and so far has only known this club where he scored 634 goals and won 35 trophies.
© 2020 AFP