The conflict between Lionel Messi and Barcelona regarding the departure of the player from Camp Nou finally reached a definite resolution on Friday after the Argentine announced he will remain at the club for another season.
The lingering speculations around the globe that the six time Balon d’Or winner has grown tired of the club is expected to be phased out completely when he return to training with his teammates for the first time under new manager Ronald Koeman but Saturday’s preparatory session had the attendance of several Barcelona players except Messi.
In his quest to leave this summer, the forward had raised his chance by boycotting Barcelona’s coronavirus test on Sunday which then exempt him from first pre-season training session since Monday.
Messi who disclosed that he grudgingly agreed to taking a U-turn in his decision to leave this term will now take the compulsory COVID-19 test after confirming his stay and he is expected to appear at the Joan Gamper training complex next week sequel to a negative result.
His volatile links to Manchester City, Paris Saint German and Juventus evaporated after Barcelona slammed a release clause of $700m on the player.
The Blaugranas captain told Goal that “I thought and was sure that I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not.
“Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season.
“And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club. Now I am going to continue in the club because the president told me that the only way to leave was to pay the €700 million clause, and that this is impossible.”
Although, Messi who has less than a year left in contract could dispute this on legal ground but he completely restrained himself from dragging his boyhood club which gave him everything to a court battle.
“There was another way and it was to go to trial,” he added.
“I would never go to court against Barca because it is the club that I love, which gave me everything since I arrived. It is the club of my life, I have made my life here.
“Barca gave me everything and I gave it everything. I know that it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court.”
Messi also explained how his family suffered when he opened up his decision to leave Spain. He said: “When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama. The whole family began crying, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools.”
Having toned down his purported move, Messi has reiterated his love for the club and also reinstated his unwavering commitment as he delve into the remaining months of his contract.
“I will continue at Barca and my attitude will not change no matter how much I have wanted to go. I will do my best.
“I always want to win, I’m competitive and I don’t like to lose anything. I always want the best for the club, for the dressing room and for myself.
“There is a new coach and new ideas. That’s good, but then we have to see how the team responds and whether or not it will allow us to compete at the top level. What I can say is that I’m staying and I’m going to give my best for Barcelona.”
