The Messi Versus Barcelona War Has Just Begun, The Story Is Still A Long Way Off
JAKARTA - After 16 seasons in Barcelona's first team, Lionel Messi wants to leave the Catalan club. This is what he communicated to the club in a burofax - certified document delivery - sent to the club on Tuesday night.
Messi will leave Barca for free, pointing to a clause in his contract that allows him to leave unilaterally at the end of each season.
In theory, this clause should be activated before 10 June, 20 days before the end of the normal football calendar year. However, the unusual circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic this season mean that he hopes to achieve a cancellation of his current contacts during the delayed off-season.
The argument is that the spirit of the clause is a decision that will be made in the weeks following the end of the season and there are documents signed by Barcelona and by FIFA which express confidence that the season will end when the final game is played.
Barcelona, however, insist that the one-sided clause in Messi's contract expires on June 10 and the player's contract is fully active.
Los Blaugrana communicated that stance in their own burofax, which was sent back to Messi's people. At the same time, the club said they hoped Messi would end his career at the Camp Nou.
It is clear that clubs and players have different attitudes on this matter. Meanwhile the Barcelona supporters and the world of football in general have reacted.
During an emergency meeting between Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and other top brass on Tuesday night, a group of supporters gathered outside the Camp Nou to call for the president's resignation.
The police came and dispersed the crowd, because of the rules related to social restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other figures in the Barcelona world have also called for Bartomeu to resign, while figures like Carles Puyol have sent support to Messi.
This is a saga that looks like it's just getting started and could be a tense legal battle.