LIONEL MESSI will miss Barcelona training again following his incredible transfer U-turn because he hasn’t been tested for coronavirus.
The 33-year-old Nou Camp legend stunned Barca bosses at the end of last month after telling them he wanted to leave following 16 seasons.
Lionel Messi missed Barcelona training again following his incredible transfer U-turnCredit: Getty Images
But a potential long-running summer saga ended when Messi confirmed he will stay at the club in order to avoid a dragged out court battle.
Having gone on strike previously to miss training, the player is still yet to link up with new manager Ronald Koeman.
According to TyC Sports, Messi has not had a Covid-19 test, which prohibits him from linking up with his team-mates.
He is expected to return on Monday – when he will have had his results back – during which he will join up with Barca for the first time since it was revealed he wanted to force a transfer away.
The Argentine superstar’s contract runs out next summer when he will be available on a free transfer, with Manchester City waiting in the wings.
It became clear that this summer, Barca would insist Messi left for nothing less than his £623million release clause.
It was made clear the only way that would change was if the club were challenged in court.
Messi could not bring himself to drag the Spanish giants into a legal battle despite believing he has a right to leave on a free transfer due to a stipulation in his contract.
Messi revealed he would be staying in an interview with Goal
The footballing legend revealed the news he wanted to leave sparked a “brutal drama” in the family because they didn’t want to leave their home in Barcelona.
Messi has three sons with wife Antonela Roccuzzo, Ciro, two, Mateo, aged four, and Thiago, aged seven.
Speaking to Goal, he said: “When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama.
“The whole family began crying, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools.
“But I looked further afield and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League. You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete.
“Mateo is still little and he doesn’t realise what it means to go somewhere else and make your life a few years elsewhere.
“Thiago, he is older. He heard something on TV and found out something and asked.
“I didn’t want him to know anything about being forced to leave, to have to live in a new school, or make new friends.
“He cried to me and said ‘let’s not go’. I repeat that it was hard, really.
“It was understandable. It happened to me. It is very difficult to make a decision.
“I love Barcelona and I’m not going to find a better place than here anywhere.
“Still, I have the right to decide. I was going to look for new goals and new challenges. And tomorrow I could go back, because here in Barcelona I have everything.
“My son, my family, they grew up here and are from here. There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave.
“I needed it, the club needed it and it was good for everyone.”
Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
