Argentine striker Lionel Messi tells Barcelona he wants to leave: Reports

Argentine striker Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he wants to leave the club as soon as possible and on a free transfer. RAC1 radio claimed that Messi had told Barcelona's new manager Ronald Koeman that he felt “more out than in”. It is learnt that Messi has also sent a fax to Barcelona informing them about his decision to leave the Spanish club.

According to Messi’s camp, there is a clause in his contract which allows him to leave Barca on a free transfer. Barcelona, however, insist that the Argentine star is still bound by a €700m (£629m) buy-out clause. 

Barcelona are yet to comment on the reports but the Spanish club maintained that Messi is still part of Koeman’s plans and if he wants to leave the club then his official price is €700m. Interestingly, Messi’s contract expires next summer, which means that Barcelona would have to look for potential buyers. Sources claimed that there is clause in Messi's contract that allows him to walk away for free so long as he informs the club about his decision.

But Barcelona believe the deadline for that clause to be applied expired in May but it is expected that Messi's legal team could cite coronavirus crisis, which extended the season this year, and demand that the deadline should be set on August 31.

Former Barçelona captain Carles Puyol has tweeted his support for Messi, saying “respect and admiration, Leo. All my support, friend”. Luis Suárez, who is set to leave Barcelona, responded with two applause emojis.

Argentinian newspaper Diario Olé reported that Messi was left frustrated after his first meeting with Koeman. According to Spain’s Diario AS, Koeman told Messi “your privileges here are over”. Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomeu is planning to hold an emergency board meeting in response to Messi’s formal request to leave.