Barcelona have told Lionel Messi that president Josep Bartomeu will resign if that would persuade him to stay in Spain, according to reports.
Bartomeu is willing to step down on the condition that Messi publicly says that the president was the reason for the Argentina star wanting to leave, Barca said while confirming reports from Spanish media.
Messi expressed his desire to leave by sending Barcelona a burofax invoking a contract clause that allowed him to depart after the end of the season. Barcelona believe the clause expired on June 10 and told Messi they want him to stay until the end of his contract in June 2021.
If Messi does move, it will require his new club to take a new approach to their finances. His staggering salary, before any agreed reductions during the pandemic, is in the gallery above and shows how far ahead he is of any other players, according to fcbarcelonalatestnews.com.
Messi has been outspoken against the club’s decisions this season, the team’s first without a title since 2007-08.
He publicly complained about former director Eric Abidal after he criticised the players' efforts following a series of poor results in February. Abidal left Barcelona after the team's 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Bartomeu is not believed to have talked to Messi since the player announced his decision to leave. The president said after the loss to Bayern that he spoke to Messi’s father and was told that the player was frustrated and disappointed.
Messi reportedly later talked to incoming coach Ronald Koeman and told him he saw himself more out than in the club at that moment.
Messi also may not have been happy with some of Koeman’s early squad decisions, including the one not to keep using striker Luis Suarez, a longtime Messi teammate and friend.
Koeman also reportedly said he will not include Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti and Arturo Vidal in his plans.
Koeman’s arrival to replace coach Quique Setien was the beginning of what Barcelona said were “profound changes to the first team” and a “wide-ranging” restructuring of the club, which also included the call for new presidential elections in March.
The squad is expected to return from its break on Sunday to undergo coronavirus testing. Training is scheduled to resume on Monday ahead of the start of the Spanish league.
