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“Messi in shape and in physical shape is such an important player”
Last Updated: 09/11/20 6:25 pm
Lionel Messi had been linked to a move to Manchester City this summer
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman is excited at the prospect of having a Lionel Messi in top form for his first season in charge.
Messi recently returned to training with Barcelona for the first time since the aftermath with the club on his future, and ties to Manchester City, seen training away from the main group alongside Philippe Coutinho.
Last month, the 33-year-old informed Barcelona that he wanted to leave this summer and that he intended to use a clause in his contract that, according to him and his representatives, allowed him to do so in a free transfer.
2:19 Messi recently returned to Barcelona training sessions and arrived before his teammates
Barça insisted that the time had passed for the clause to be activated and that the player would have to pay the termination clause of 700 million euros of his contract if another club wanted to sign him this summer.
Messi later revealed in an interview that he had reversed his decision, saying that he could never go to court against the club to secure a move.
Speaking after Messi returned to training, coach Koeman said: “I have said many times that Messi fit and fit is such an important player.
“He has shown it for many years and we hope he can repeat it this season.”
Tuesday August 25 – Messi sends Barcelona an official document in which he informs the club of his desire to leave and activates the ‘get-out’ clause in his contract that would make him leave for free.
Wednesday 26 August – Barcelona sports director Ramon Planes says the club “aims to build the team around Messi” and wants him to stay.
Friday August 28 – Messi requests a personal meeting with the Barça hierarchy and his lawyers to discuss a solution to his transfer request. He is seen leaving a restaurant in Barcelona after a dinner with a close friend Luis Suárez, also on his way out of the club.
Sunday August 30 – Messi does not appear for Barcelona’s pre-season coronavirus tests. La Liga issued a statement supporting Barcelona’s stance on the dispute over its contract, stating that it will only leave if its € 700 million buyout clause is paid in full.
Monday August 31 – Messi does not show up for Barcelona’s first training session with the new boss Ronald Koeman.
Wednesday, September 2 – Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, flies to Barcelona from Rosario in Argentina for crucial conversations with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the board. He says it is “difficult” for his son to stay at the club.
Thursday September 3 – The talks between Jorge Messi and Bartomeu continue on a second day.
Friday September 4 – Messi’s father insists that the 700 million euro release clause “is not applicable at all” and publishes a statement opposing La Liga’s verdict on the situation.
Friday September 4 Messi confirms that he will remain at Barcelona next season after talks with Bartomeu.
When asked about Barça’s training levels in general heading into the new season, Koeman added: “Very positive.
“We have been here for two weeks and I think the players have been working very well with very good intensity in training in the first and second week on the physical side and now we are doing more tactical things.
“But above all in all sessions the players have a lot of spirit, interest and intensity and this is the most important thing because for me as a coach because of the way we play. It is very important so I am happy with the work. that the team has done in the two weeks. “
‘Awkward truce’
Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth on Messi’s decision to stay: “It strikes me as one of the most awkward truces you could get to. I don’t think either side can claim victory. The courts would have been the only way. to overcome this, but Messi did not want to go to court with ‘the club of his life’.
“A court case would never have concluded before the transfer window was closed, so we would have ended up in the position we are in now: no movement for Messi and no money for Barcelona.
“In an ideal situation, Messi would want to go. In an ideal situation, Barcelona would have wanted 700 million euros or a substantial transfer fee. Neither Messi nor Barcelona have what they want.”
3:14 Sky Sports News reporter Gary Cotterill took a look at some of the biggest newspapers in Spain as they reacted to Messi’s decision to remain in Barcelona.
‘Messi could extend the stay if Bartomeu leaves’
Spanish soccer journalist Álvaro Montero believes Messi could extend his stay at Barcelona beyond next season if the club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, leaves.
“The first moment he scores a goal and plays the best he can, I think the Barcelona fans could forgive him,” Montero said. Sky Sports News.
“If you ask Barcelona fans about Lionel Messi and Josep Maria Bartomeu, I would say that 95% would be with Messi and not with Bartomeu and his board members.
“I think it will be easier for Messi to stay if Bartomeu is out. That relationship is impossible to fix, so if Bartomeu leaves after the elections and there is a new president, the possibility could increase.”
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