Barcelona, Spain: After dozens of titles, hundreds of goals, and countless records, Lionel Messi’s career may have ended abruptly with Barcelona Football Club, but before that, the entire case is also likely to get caught in the legal tussle. Messi told Barcelona on Tuesday that he wanted to leave the club with which he had been associated for nearly two decades. He was unhappy at not winning any trophy this season and a crushing defeat at Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Barcelona confirmed to the Associated Press that Messi had sent a document to the club expressing his desire to leave the club. The club, however, indicated that the matter could reach the court and said it would not allow the Argentine veteran to leave the club on his own free will. Barcelona have told Messi that the club wants to keep him with him and he wants him to end his career while at the club. The main issue is the provision attached to Messi’s contract.
Barcelona said the documents Messi sent contained a clause that allows him to leave the club without any trouble. However, the club said that the provision expired in June and legal advice would have to be sought. Messi’s contract also included a provision of Euro 700 million. The Spanish session usually ends in May but this time it was pulled further due to the corona virus epidemic.
Messi had resented some of Barcelona’s decisions this season. He had also criticized the club’s sports director Eric Abidal, who left the club last week. Messi was silent since the defeat at the hands of Bayern, which led to speculation about his future.
