LIONEL Messi’s team-mates are in turmoil over the surperstar’s shock decision to quit Barcelona, admits his colleague Frenkie de Jong.
He said: “Currently it’s a mess at Barcelona, so many strange things happening, it’s chaos.”
Messi plans to bid farewell to BarcaCredit: AFP or licensors
De Jong hasn’t spoken to Messi himself, nor the club, so doesn’t know where things currently stand between the club and player.
He added: “But if Messi really leaves, it will be a huge blow to the team and the club.”
There’s still some hope that Messi will stay at the Nou Camp, as he’s still a-part of the teams’ WhatsApp group, de Jong revealed.
He said: “He’s still in the group chat, I’m not someone who talks about it with him, I’m sure he has many people around him doing that these days.”
Messi’s father and agent, Jorge Messi, met with Barca president Josep Bartomeu earlier today, for crisis talks about his son’s future.
When quizzed by reporters, Messi Snr admitted it will be ‘diffficult’ for his son to stay at Barca, given the contract fall-out beween both parties.
Manchester City have emerged as favourites for Messi’s signature, and a transfer to the Eithad seems imminent, with Fox News Australia suggesting that they’ve already agreed personal terms.
But Barca aren’t willing to let go of their star-player on the cheap and insist a whopping £629million buy-out clause that is still valid will have to be paid.
According to Record Sport, Messi has agreed financial terms on a five-year contract with Man City worth a total of €700m (£623m).
Messi could reportedly spend three seasons at the Etihad before joining City Football Group’s (CFG) Major League Soccer side New York City FC for two years.
He announced his desire to leave the Catalan giants after they were trounced 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Messi’s father lands in Barcelona amid reports of FC Barcelona meeting
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
