LIONEL MESSI is returning to Barcelona training on Monday after his transfer request Nou-turn – but will not decide his long-term future until their next president is announced.
The one-club legend, 33, will meet new boss Ronald Koeman after conceding he must stay until his contract runs out next summer.
Barcelona icon Lionel Messi was left with little option but to stay until his contract runs out next summerCredit: AFP or licensors
Current president Josep Maria Bartomeu is due to stay in office until March next year after tough negotiations over Lionel MessiCredit: AFP or licensors
But reports in Spain suggest Messi wants to wait and see who replaces Nou Camp president Josep Maria Bartomeu in the upcoming March 2021 election.
Sport.es say Argentina frontman Messi wants to put the dispute to one side for now and focus on restoring Barca’s battered image.
Real Madrid returned from the coronavirus lockdown to overhaul Barcelona for the La Liga title, then Bayern Munich humiliated Messi and Co 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-finals last month.
That prompted Messi to finally ask for a free move, claiming his June 10 deadline should be extended due to Covid-19 lengthening the campaign.
But LaLiga backed Barca’s insistence that the original date still stood.
And despite Messi’s dad Jorge holding talks with Nou Camp bosses, urging them to let his son go, he was forced to climb down.
Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez squarely blamed Jorge and “bad advice” for Messi Junior having no option now but to stay put.
Messi put in a transfer request by fax last week.
But 208-goal ex-Real striker Sanchez told ESPN: “That untimely burofax only strengthened the image of the president of Barcelona and gave him time to weaken Messi’s decision.
“Messi has had no choice but to stay at Barcelona due to bad advice from his father and the law firm, because they could have saved that burofax.
“That has caused weakness to his image within the team.
“Coincidentally, Messi had the lawyers who had previously worked with Barcelona, but due to a conflict of interest, the Catalan club changed its strategy.”
Lionel Messi will be back training with Barcelona training on Monday after avoiding it last weekCredit: Reuters
Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
