Barcelona has straight-up refused to meet with star man Lionel Messi to discuss the terms of an exit, but will only come face-to-face with the club legend in order to arrange a new contract.
Messi has officially informed Barca via burofax that he wishes to exercise a clause that enables him to walk away for free at the end of a season, though Barca rigidly states that a deadline to do so has long since passed.
And now Barca chiefs are so steadfast in their position that they will not meet with Messi and his agent for anything other than his recommitting to the Nou Camp, as report El Periodico in Spain.
The only possible meeting, say Barca sources, would be to extend the contract that currently binds Messi with the club until 2021.
It is reported that Barca and Messi started to talk about this in June, as football started to return from the postponement caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Upon the return of action, however, Barca embarked on a miserable run which saw them slump in the La Liga season and hand the title over to rivals Real Madrid.
Reprieve in the Champions League after beating Napoli to book a place in the one-legged semi-final against Bayern Munich in Lisbon, only to be utterly humiliated by an 8-2 defeat.
Messi was seen looking distraught at the final whistle and later sat alone in the dressing room, before later coming to the decision that he wanted out of the club.
President Josep Bartomeu has already played his hand in the saga, by stating he is willing to step aside should Messi make this desire clear.
This ‘movement of Bartomeu that does not convince Messi at all’ according to Spanish reports, with the Argentine still hopeful of engineering a move to reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Barca maintains Messi still remains bound by his buy-out clause, which stands at as astronomical £625million (€700m).
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