Lionel Messi seems to have taken a step closer to his departure from FC Barcelona: the Argentine striker was not seen by AFP journalists at the entrance to the training center where he was summoned for a session on Sunday screening for coronavirus. All the players and the staff were summoned this Sunday morning to take PCR tests for the detection of the new coronavirus before the resumption of training on Monday.
Lionel Messi, who had an appointment at 10:15 am according to the press, was not seen by journalists on the spot, unlike his friend, striker Luis Suarez, with whom he regularly arrives in training. Messi sent a Burofax (a registered letter that has legal value) to Barça leaders on Tuesday via his lawyers.
They also informed the club management that the player would not appear at this first preseason meeting or at the first training of new coach Ronald Koeman on Monday, according to the Spanish press. The player considers that he no longer has a commitment to the club, add local media.
The majority of the players present
The majority of the other players passed through the portal of the main entrance to the Joan Gamper sports city throughout the morning, before 11:00 am. Including executives announced on departure like Arturo Vidal or Suarez, players in recovery like German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, or internationals like French defender Clément Lenglet.
The first to arrive were Jordi Alba, Martin Braithwaite and the new coach Ronald Koeman, around 9 a.m. this Sunday morning, expected by around thirty supporters in front of the gates of Barça's training center. With this absence, the Argentine "Pulga" (chip, in Spanish) hardens the tussle with the club management to negotiate its exit from the Catalan club.
"He does not show up" had headlined the Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo this Sunday, white letters on a black background, with a large photo of "Leo" Messi alone in an empty Camp Nou.
"He is in front", titled Sport; “In rebellion,” Marca posted; "More oil on the fire" summarized L'Esportiu, about a Messi who made the headlines of all the Spanish and Catalan sports press.
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Barcelona: Bluff or real weariness ... Can Lionel Messi really leave his club forever?
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