Bartomeu's Meeting With Jorge Could Decide Messi's Future

Lionel Messi and Josep Maria Bartomeu (Photo: MARCA)

JAKARTA - Jorge Messi is expected to hold talks with Josep Maria Bartomeu today, Wednesday, September 2 local time when the Lionel Messi saga reaches its climax. Leo's father and agent flew to Barcelona from Rosario by private jet on Tuesday to discuss his son's situation at the club.

On the one hand, Messi wants to leave Barcelona and believes legally he can do it for free during the current transfer window. On the other hand, Barcelona do not want to lose him and insist that his € 700 million release clause remains in effect.

Everything is at stake for Bartomeu in this case - if he allows Messi to go, he will be the president who will let two of his star players go. Before Messi, there was Neymar who went to Paris Saint-Germain three years ago.

The president took his steps from the start, offering his resignation if Messi walked out and saying he was the reason behind Messi's desire to leave. However, the Argentina captain deflected the game like he was about to dribble past opponents on the field.

However, Bartomeu managed to get Jorge Messi to meet him in person. She believes the face-to-face meeting could be what it takes to convince Leo to stay.

Launching MARCA, Wednesday, Bartomeu will offer a contract extension to Messi until 2022 with terms agreed by the player a few months ago.

Release clauses that previously existed in the La Pulga contract will remain in effect. This allows him to leave if he wants at the end of next season - when Bartomeu will leave the club.

If he can get Jorge and Leo to agree to his proposed deal, Bartomeu will avoid the stigma of letting Messi escape to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Bartomeu has to be very persuasive, because Messi's wish - which his father will repeat - still leaves Camp Nou. If Bartomeu is unable to convince Messi to sign a new deal, then talks will move on to the next stage - negotiating the process of leaving Messi as soon as possible.

The two sides would then agree on the asking price - Bartomeu knew not to ask 700 million euros because Messi had legal arguments against that. Messi doesn't want the matter to be brought to justice, so, rather than demanding to leave for free now, he will ask Barcelona to set the asking price.

The idea is for the agreed ask price to be something suitable for clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Then, after the conclusion is reached, Jorge will discuss the matter with his son and a final resolution will be decided.