Lionel Messi returns to Barcelona for training

Lionel Messi returned to Barcelona for training for the first time since Messi's future confrontation with the club. On Monday morning, Barcelona tweeted a photo of the 33-year-old forward who broke the record, wearing a pink shirt with the third jersey of 2020-21. Messi informed Barcelona last month that he wants to leave this summer and intends to use a clause in the contract, which he and his representatives claim to allow him to transfer for free. 

Barcelona insisted that the time to activate the clause has passed, and players must pay a 700 million euro release clause in the contract if another club wants to sign him this summer. Messi subsequently revealed in an interview published on Friday that he had overturned his decision, saying that he would never file a lawsuit against the club to secure this.

Lionel Messi stays at Barcelona: A timeline

• Tuesday August 25
  Messi sends Barcelona an official document informing the club of his desire to leave and activate the ‘get-out’ clause in his contract that would see him leave for free.
• Wednesday August 26
  Barcelona sporting director Ramon Planes says the club are “aiming to build the team around Messi” and want him to stay.
• Friday August 28
  Messi requests a personal meeting with the Barcelona hierarchy and his lawyers to discuss a solution to his transfer request. He is spotted leaving a restaurant in Barcelona after a dinner with close friend Luis Suarez, also on his way out of the club.
• Sunday August 30
  Messi does not turn up for Barcelona pre-season coronavirus testing. La Liga release a statement backing Barcelona’s stance on the dispute over his contract, stating he will only leave if his €700m release clause is paid in full.
• Monday August 31
  Messi does not turn up for Barcelona first training session under new boss Ronald Koeman.
• Wednesday September 2
  Messi father and agent Jorge flies into Barcelona from Rosario in Argentina for crunch talks with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the board. He says it is “difficult” for his son to stay at the club.
• Thursday September 3
  Talks between Jorge Messi and Bartomeu carry on into a second day.
• Friday September 4
  Messi father insists the 700m Euro release clause is “not applicable at all” and releases a statement opposing La Liga’s verdict on the situation.
• Friday September 4
  Messi confirms he will remain with Barcelona for next season following talks with Bartomeu.

'Uneasy truce'

Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth said of the decision left by Messi: “This shocks me because this is one of the most unpleasant truces you may encounter. I don’t think any party can claim victory. The court was the only one. But Messi does not want to go to court with "his life club".

He said: "The court will never close the case until the transfer window is closed, so we will finally return to where we are now: Messi has no movement and Barcelona has no money.

"In an ideal situation, Messi wants to leave. In an ideal situation, Barcelona would have needed 700 million euros or a high transfer fee. Neither Messi nor Barcelona wanted what they wanted."

'Messi could extend stay if Bartomeu leaves'

Spanish football journalist Alvaro Montero and online casino malaysia believes that if club president Josep Maria Bartomeu leaves, Messi can extend his stay in Barcelona until next season.

Monteiro said in an interview with Sky Sports News: "The first moment he scored and did his best, I think Barcelona fans can forgive him."

"If you ask Barcelona fans about Lionel Messi and Josep Maria Bartomeu, I would say that 95% of them will be with Messi, not Bartomeu And his board members.

"I think it will be easier for Messi to stay if Bartomeu is not there. This relationship is impossible to resolve, so if Bartomeu leaves after the election and has a new president, the probability will increase. ."