A bombshell at Barça. Leo Messi intends not to renew his contract and is planning to leave Futbol Club Barcelona in 2021, according to Spanish radio network Cadena SER. The contract renegotiation between Messi and the club was on track, but with the deepening crisis in which the Catalan club is immersed, the Argentinian star has decided to put it all on hold.
Messi-Barça, a frozen relationship
The team's poor results in the Spanish league - which have placed Real Madrid in the box seat to win the title - the poor atmosphere and mediocre play seem to have caused Messi to consider leaving the only club in which he has ever played as a professional.
Messi, with a look in his eye
The day Messi leaves Barça will be a football earthquake of the highest magnitude. For the best part of two decades now, culers have had the pleasure of watching Messi play, and for most of that time, they have known they were watching the best footballer in history. He is still close to the height of his powers and now it is the job of the club to change Leo's mind.
Messi "does not want to become a problem for the club" and is tired of "self-serving leaks being made by the club itself which make him responsible for decisions which he had nothing to do with," according to SER.
Messi, angry, during the match against Atletico Madrid
So, this news, if confirmed, could be the last straw for Barça. The Argentinian's relationship with Eder Sarabia, assistant to coach Quique Setién, is disastrous, and the dressing room as a whole is not convinced by Setién's tactics. That led to a boilover in their last defeat at Celta.
Messi can leave whenever he wants
It's key to remember that Messi's contract with Barça allows him to walk at any time he wants. The Argentinian does not want to feel compelled to fulfill a contract of many years if he does not feel comfortable, perceives that he cannot offer 100% or sees that there is no "winning project". That’s his argument for why he wants to have the final word every season on whether he continues.
Messi protests against a decision
What is certain is that Messi will not leave at the end of this season, as last month it transpired that the Argentinian's option to leave Camp Nou in 2020 expired on 30th May. Thus, there is the whole 2020-2021 season to convince the six-times Ballon d'Or winner to change his mind.
The major job on the agenda of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu before his term runs out in the summer of 2021 was to renew Messi's contract, but right now the Barça president is besieged on many fronts.
Messi continues breaking all records on the pitch, and in the match against Atletico Madrid he scored the 700th goal of his career (630 with Barça and 70 with Argentina). The Pulga is still the centre of everything in the Barça football universe and the fans just want this news to be a part of a 2020 nightmare which they will wake up from soon. Or by 2021, at the latest.