Barcelona are hoping to persuade Lionel Messi to stay at the club, but some board members have told ESPN that they would not oppose selling him in the right circumstances.
New coach Ronald Koeman has publicly stated that he wants to build the team around Messi, and sources have told ESPN that it is the position of the board that they want to keep him.
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However, Messi’s doubts about his future have generated an internal debate among the board. Some executives have told ESPN that they would be willing to listen to offers that Koeman could reconstruct the team at the same time as reducing payroll.
Messi has become frustrated with events on and off the field in recent seasons. He had a public outburst earlier this year with former sports director Eric Abidal and criticized the board for trying to put pressure on players when they negotiate a pay cut due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On the field, the Champions League outings against Roma and Liverpool were followed by a first trophy-lesser season since 2007-08, with the humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich and all over.
RAC 1 first revealed on Thursday that Messi has already met with Koeman and informed that he sees himself more outside than at Camp Nou after the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern.
ESPN has confirmed that Argentina’s international forward has shifted his doubts about the new sports project to Koeman, which includes potential outcomes for Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba, among others. On Friday, Suarez posted an enigmatic message in his Instagram story that said, “Never forget that you are the architect of your own future.”
The majority of sources at the Catalan club consulted by ESPN were relaxed about the uncertainty over Messi’s future, as he still has one year to go on his contract. They also believe the coach will be able to change his mind, with further talks planned between the two.
However, at least one high-profile source at the club is of the opinion that if Messi is no longer happy in Barcelona, then they should consider letting him go when a big offer arrives.
For the moment, no one has put a price on Messi’s head, and the club continue to point to his € 700 million release clause – although he would allow it for free next summer if he does not sign new terms then.
President Josep Maria Bartomeu remains committed to Messi’s goal and wants to commit to a new deal by 2023 before Bartomeu’s own term expires next year.
But negotiations over a two-year extension have been halted for the time being, as Barca are waiting to see if Messi’s anger over Bayern’s loss in the coming days will diminish, or whether he has finally decided to leave the club this time around. he first met almost 20 years ago.
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