What happened Between Lionel Messi and Ronald Koeman: Messi plans to leave Barcelona amidst Ronald Koeman plan of change at the club, sent across his message to the board.
Barcelona is mapping a squad overhaul after a humiliating defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. It started with the immediate sacking of manager Quique Setien.
Now, the club’s managerial charge is under Ronald Koeman, who has directed his plans along with the board and plan to sell most of the players from the squad, with the exception of Lionel Messi, Marc Andre Ter Stegen and Clement Lenglet.
However, according to multiple sources along with Alfredo Martinez, Messi is demanding his departure from Barcelona and a union of around 20 years might come to an end.
Hoy es un día muy triste para el barcelonismo. Leo Messi anuncia que no quiere seguir en el Barcelona. Tras 29 años y 17 en la plantilla profesional, el jugador más grande de la Historia, se quiere ir.Y Bartomeu se queda . El presidente que no ha sabido retenerle no puede seguir
— Alfredo Martínez (@Alfremartinezz) August 25, 2020
Why is Messi Leaving Barcelona?
As of now, the main reason for it is not clear but probably Messi is not convinced with Ronald Koeman’s plans and had a conversation with the new manager, which he reportedly left discontented.
It has been revealed that Messi didn’t like the idea by Koeman of reforms in the dressing room, moreover, in the wake of humiliation against Bayern Munich, many clubs are on the line of losing their job at the club, which has also irked Messi.
Can Lionel Messi leave for free?
As per El Pais, it was revealed in the winters that Messi can leave the club for free this summer, however, the deadline for his such departure was June 30.
Thus, making a favourable condition for Barcelona to technically force him to stay for another year, but considering the god-like figure of Messi, the board cannot practically do it.
On the other hand, if things got ugly, Messi can knock the door of the court and can interject that the delay in football calendar forced him to not opt for that clause as Barcelona’s season was still going on, theoretically making a strong argument.