World footballer of the year, Lionel Messi is yet to resume Barcelona training despite incredible transfer U-turn. This is because he is yet to do his coronavirus test.
The new protocol requires each club personnel to be tested before being allowed to use the facilities as normalcy gradually returns. This means that coach Ronald Koeman will have to wait for his captain to return to action again as others had reported for training August 31.
Messi had shocked many Barca fans when he tendered his transfer request. But Barca had insisted that the can only leave on the condition that he pays his £623million release clause or clubs interested in him do so.
Not wanting to force a legal battle with the club he loves, based on the agreement he can leave for free once the contract remains a year left, the Argentine changed his mind to stay for another season to run down his contract.
Will this be the last season of Lionel Messi as a Barcelona player?
The 33-year-old Nou Camp legend will expectedly return to training at Barca and link up with Koeman for his 17th season with the La Liga club once the result turns out negative.
He is expected to return on Monday when he will have had his results back.
It could be recalled that since it was revealed he wanted to force a transfer away, Manchester City had been waiting in the wings for his service.
But since he has changed his mind, and City is not looking to pay the humongous fee, they will have to wait till the summer when the Argentine superstar’s contract runs out.
According to the contract details, the clause to leave on free was only valid till 10th of July and Messi didn’t exercise it. This got the backing of the league body, La Liga as well to make everything became clear that this summer.
‘Brutal drama’
Meanwhile, Messi during an interview with goal revealed that the news he wanted to leave Camp Nou sparked a “brutal drama” in the family because they didn’t want to leave their home in Barcelona.
“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.
“But I looked further afield and I want to compete at the highest level, win titles, compete in the Champions League. You can win or lose in it, because it is very difficult, but you have to compete.
“Mateo is still little and he doesn’t realise what it means to go somewhere else and make your life a few years elsewhere.
“Thiago, he is older. He heard something on TV and found out something and asked.
“I didn’t want him to know anything about being forced to leave, to have to live in a new school, or make new friends.
“He cried to me and said ‘let’s not go’. I repeat that it was hard, really. It was understandable. It happened to me. It is very difficult to make a decision.
“I love Barcelona and I’m not going to find a better place than here anywhere. Still, I have the right to decide. I was going to look for new goals and new challenges. And tomorrow I could go back because here in Barcelona I have everything.
“My son, my family, they grew up here and are from here. There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave.
“I needed it, the club needed it and it was good for everyone.”
