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Lionel Messi missed a coronavirus check at Barcelona’s coaching floor on Sunday morning, membership sources have confirmed to AFP, elevating the likelihood he’ll now boycott pre-season to drive a switch. Without passing a coronavirus check, Messi will likely be unable to hitch team-mates for brand spanking new coach Ronald Koeman’s first coaching session on Monday, with the beginning of the La Liga season lower than two weeks away. Messi was attributable to report for testing at 10:15am on Sunday however in keeping with sources at Barca, he failed to point out up on the Ciutat Esportiva.
The membership’s captain and best ever participant might now be punished with a wonderful and even a discount in wage if the strike continues.
Luis Suarez — his greatest pal and strike accomplice — and Arturo Vidal have been amongst gamers seen arriving for exams, regardless of each being informed they need to discover new groups as a part of a deliberate clear-out this summer season.
The meet-up was an opportunity for Messi to make his first public look because the burofax stating his intention to depart arrived within the workplaces of Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Instead, his absence provides a transparent indication of his dedication to safe a transfer and the way ugly this dispute might now develop into.
Taking half within the group’s pre-season programme might harm his authorized case if his departure finally ends up being settled in court docket.
Barcelona insist a clause included in Messi’s contract that allowed him to go without cost this summer season needed to be activated by June 10 and is due to this fact not legitimate.
The solely approach the 33-year-old will likely be allowed to depart, the membership argue, is thru his launch clause, set at 700 million euros ($833 million) till his contract expires on June 30, 2021.
But Messi’s aspect imagine the clause refers to not a particular date however to 10 days after the tip of the season, which this yr was prolonged into August because of the pandemic, with the Champions League last solely performed final weekend.
Supporters nonetheless hoping
His absence suggests he’s ready to do no matter it takes to stop the membership he joined as 13-year-old boy, and the place most anticipated him to proceed throughout to retirement.
Supporters, a few of whom rushed in Camp Nou in protest final week, stay hopeful Messi would possibly nonetheless be persuaded.
Outside the coaching floor on Sunday morning, a younger boy carrying a Messi shirt sat together with his head in his palms, hoping his hero might but return.
Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona day by day with shut hyperlinks to the board, reported on Saturday that the membership is defiant, even when each stance now might be a negotiating ploy.
“The more the days go by, the firmer the board and president Josep Maria Bartomeu are in not moving from their position,” it learn. “Which is not to sell and, if possible, to renew the contract of Messi.”
Bartomeu made it recognized via the Spanish press on Thursday that he would resign if Messi mentioned publicly that he was the issue and agreed to alter his thoughts.
But Messi has remained steadfast. His snub on Sunday comes after he requested for a gathering, to not negotiate, however to start facilitating an amicable and dignified departure.
“Messi’s decision to leave Barca irreversible,” learn Diario Sport on Saturday.
Manchester City stay favourites to signal the 33-year-old, whose primary annual wage alone quantities to round 60 million euros.
If Barcelona and Messi resolve to keep away from a prolonged authorized course of, a compromise promoting value of round 100 million euros might be inside attain for Abu Dhabi-owned City, whereas eliminating their much less rich rivals.
Promoted
Messi has reportedly spoken to City coach Pep Guardiola already however others stay within the operating, together with Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus.
The Italian sides would doubtless require a much-reduced value to afford any deal. Juve would possibly view the possibility to mix Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as an historic sporting and business alternative too good to go up.
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