LIONEL MESSI will report to Barcelona training on Monday despite having made clear his intention to leave, reports claim.
The Argentine shocked the football world on Tuesday by confirming that he will try and leave the club this summer.
Messi WILL attend Barcelona training on MondayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
And he believes he can go for free, by exercising a clause in his contract to do so.
But ahead of the inevitable legal battle with Barcelona, the 33-year-old’s representatives have advised him against doing anything that could give his club any extra ammunition in the court room.
So according to TyC Sports, Messi WILL turn up when Barca return to pre-season training on Monday – despite previous indications that he wouldn’t.
And new boss Ronald Koeman, whose disastrous first meeting with his captain precipitated the transfer request, will have a big decision to make regarding the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The Dutchman will decide whether to allow him to train with the rest of the first-team squad – or to have him work separately.
Koeman, 57, faces a fine line between indulging a potentially disruptive presence and possibly alienating even more of his squad.
Messi is reportedly being chased by the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan as the race for his signature hots up.
City could be in the driving seat, with Mundo Deportivo’s Francesc Aguillar claiming that City chief executive Ferran Soriano believes that his side will successfully swoop in and take the six-time Ballon d’Or winner for free.
The 53-year-old, however, has reached out to Messi’s camp to assure them that City can afford to sign him – even if they have to pay a transfer fee.
Barcelona have previously insisted that they will demand his £630million release clause in full if they are to sell their star asset.
But City chiefs are confident that they can negotiate this fee down, if needs be.
Some, however, are backing Inter for his signature, with his former agent Josep Maria Minguella being one of them.
The 79-year-old told Spanish radio station Cope: “For me, Messi already has a team: Inter.
Messi played potentially his last Barca game in the 8-2 defeat to BayernCredit: AP:Associated Press
“In Italy they pay less taxes for what could be, in fact, there is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It is more difficult for me to see him in England no matter how much his friend Aguero and Guardiola are in City.
“Now in Italy they are trying to revitalise the world of football with great signings and with these advantages in the advertising contracts of the footballers.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
