Barcelona could also be about to lose the league however shedding Lionel Messi can be a lot tougher to abdomen. Messi’s contract is because of expire subsequent 12 months and the Argentinian has reportedly stopped talks resulting from frustrations with the route of the membership. “Messi is planning to depart Barca,” Spanish radio Cadena Ser mentioned on Thursday.
“Proper now, Messi’s thought is to complete his contract in 2021 and depart Barcelona. Messi has stalled on the extension of his contract. Negotiations had began very properly, with a very good understanding between the 2 events, however current occasions have made Messi rethink every thing.”
Requested about ideas Messi plans to depart Barcelona, coach Quique Setien mentioned on Saturday: “I will not speculate about this as a result of I have never heard from him so I am not conscious of him saying something.
“I see him properly, every thing else is theory that I will not get entangled in. We talk about what now we have to talk about and nothing else.”
Barcelona play away at in-form Villarreal on Sunday night. Actual Madrid may by then have prolonged their lead on the high of the desk. They face Athletic Bilbao a couple of hours earlier.
Real manager Zinedine Zidane was requested about Messi’s potential departure on Thursday.
“I do not know what’s going to occur however we hope not as a result of he’s on this league and we wish one of the best on this league,” mentioned Zidane.
Messi mentioned in February he didn’t imagine Barcelona may win the Champions League on present kind.
The 33-year-old has additionally had common disagreements with the membership’s board, headed by president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Messi reacted publicly when sporting director Eric Abidal appeared responsible the gamers for the sacking of Ernesto Valverde in January.
He additionally led the fightback from the gamers over the dispute with the board in March concerning pay cuts through the coronavirus pandemic.
“We can not assist however be shocked that from throughout the membership there are these making an attempt to place us below the microscope or apply stress for us to do one thing that now we have at all times been clear that we’d do,” mentioned Messi.
Barcelona’s presidential elections are resulting from be held in 2021, when Bartomeu should step apart.
Amongst these set to run is Victor Font, who needs to nominate Messi’s former team-mate Xavi Hernandez as coach.
But Barca’s kind, in addition to ideas of unrest within the dressing room, have positioned scrutiny on Setien’s job within the short-term.
He has a contract till 2022, with a break clause in 2021, however it’s to be seen if he’s in cost for subsequent season, and even the Champions League in August.
“I’ve skilled it different instances,” mentioned Setien, when requested concerning the uncertainty. “It’s not one thing I can management. This the circus that we’re in and we settle for it. “I do not exhaust myself by studying or listening to the noise round me.”
Xavi changing Setien would reinvigorate Messi, and maybe the staff, however the Spaniard is unlikely to take cost whereas Bartomeu continues to be in place. Meaning Xavi must wait at the least one other 12 months.
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Messi’s reluctance to proceed contract negotiations might be a political ploy aimed toward undermining the present board additional. However at 33, he additionally doesn’t have time to waste.
Except Barcelona unexpectedly go all the way in which subsequent month, it will likely be 5 years because the world’s finest participant has gained the Champions League. Each Messi and Europe’s elite golf equipment can be conscious he deserves higher.
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