Messi unable to sign up for Barca after failing to wait virus check

 

In this file photo taken on August 4, 2019 Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi waves prior to the 54th Joan Gamper Trophy friendly soccer fit between Barcelona and Arsenal on the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. — AFP

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi missed a coronavirus on Sunday morning to take a look at Barcelona's training ground, membership sources reported to AFP, raising the likelihood that he would now skip the pre-season to force a switch.

Without passing a coronavirus check, Messi will be unable to sign up for team-mates for brand new trainer Ronald Koeman's first training session on Monday, with the start of the La Liga season less than two weeks away.

Messi used to be because of record for trying out at 10:15am on Sunday however in step with sources at Barca, he failed to show up on the Ciutat Esportiva.

The club's captain and biggest ever player could now be punished with a high-quality and even a discount in wage if the strike continues.

Luis Suarez — his best buddy and strike spouse — and Arturo Vidal have been among players noticed arriving for assessments, regardless of each being told they should find new teams as a part of a deliberate clear-out this summer time.

The meet-up used to be an opportunity for Messi to make his first public look because the burofax declaring his intention to go away arrived in the workplaces of Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Instead, his absence provides a clear indication of his choice to safe a transfer and the way ugly this dispute may just now turn out to be.

Taking section within the crew's pre-season programme may just injury his criminal case if his departure finally ends up being settled in courtroom.

Barcelona insist a clause incorporated in Messi's contract that allowed him to go free of charge this summer needed to be activated by way of June 10 and is subsequently no longer valid.

The best means the 33-year-old will probably be allowed to go away, the club argue, is through his release clause, set at 700 million euros ($833 million) till his contract expires on June 30, 2021.

But Messi's facet believe the clause refers to not a specific date however to 10 days after the tip of the season, which this 12 months was prolonged into August due to the pandemic, with the Champions League ultimate most effective played ultimate weekend.

Supporters nonetheless hoping

His absence suggests he is ready to do no matter it takes to surrender the club he joined as 13-year-old boy, and the place most expected him to continue all through to retirement.

Supporters, a few of whom stormed Camp Nou in protest last week, stay hopeful Messi would possibly still be persuaded.

Outside the training ground on Sunday morning, a young boy dressed in a Messi shirt sat along with his head in his arms, hoping his hero could yet return.

Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona day by day with close hyperlinks to the board, reported on Saturday that the membership is defiant, even though each and every stance now generally is a negotiating ploy.

"The more the days move via, the less assailable the board and president Josep Maria Bartomeu are in no longer transferring from their place," it read.

Bartomeu made it known throughout the Spanish press on Thursday that he would renounce if Messi stated publicly that he was once the issue and agreed to switch his thoughts.

But Messi has remained steadfast. His snub on Sunday comes after he asked for a gathering, not to negotiate, however to start out facilitating an amicable and dignified departure.

"Messi´s determination to go away Barca irreversible," read Diario Sport on Saturday.

Manchester City remain favourites to sign the 33-year-old, whose fundamental annual wage alone amounts to around 60 million euros.

If Barcelona and Messi make a decision to keep away from a lengthy prison procedure, a compromise selling value of round 100 million euros may well be inside succeed in for Abu Dhabi-owned City, whilst getting rid of their less wealthy rivals.

Messi has reportedly spoken to City trainer Pep Guardiola already but others remain in the running, together with Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus.

The Italian aspects would most probably require a much-reduced price to come up with the money for any deal. Juve might view the risk to combine Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as an historic carrying and commercial opportunity too good to pass up.