Transfer Centre

Lionel Messi 'no longer considers himself a Barcelona player'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 31 August 2020

Wantaway Barcelona captain Lionel Messi will reportedly miss the team's return to training as he no longer considers himself a Barcelona player.

Lionel Messi reportedly has no intention of returning to training with Barcelona as he no longer considers himself under contract at the club.

Ronald Koeman's side are due to reconvene for their first day of pre-season preparations today as the new manager looks to lead a rebuild following a trophyless and turbulent 2019-20 campaign.

However, Messi's future continues to overshadow everything else at the club, with the wantaway captain failing to turn up for coronavirus testing on Sunday after handing in a transfer request last week.

The 33-year-old believes that a clause in his contract allows him to leave on a free transfer, whereas Barcelona argue that the clause in question expired on June 10.

Sky Sports News reports that Messi no longer considers himself a Barcelona player and will therefore not return to training until the matter is resolved.

Messi and his father are due to sit down with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu this week, with Barca still hopeful of keeping him but Messi determined to leave.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has been linked with a move to Manchester City, while Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are also thought to be interested.