Lionel Messi faces ‘serious penalties’ for absences in Barcelona as Man City transfer is backed by his father due to clash talks

Lionel Messi is reportedly facing a large fine for missing Barcelona’s COVID-19 test and a training session on Monday.

The Argentine superstar informed the Catalan club last week that he wanted to enact a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave with a free transfer.

LaLiga sided with Barcelona on this matter and said its £ 632 million buyout clause is still active.

Messi is likely to challenge this unless Man City or another club can come to terms with the Catalan club.

Marca reports that the 33-year-old will face “severe penalties” as a result of his actions earlier this week.

He did not show up for coronavirus testing or the club’s training session on Monday because he no longer believes he is a Barcelona employee.

The report says that, according to “the collective agreement of LaLiga and the Association of Spanish Footballers,” he could face economic sanctions and also be suspended.

Marca says that the document establishes that ‘a serious offense can be judged when a player “leaves work” twice without just cause’.

The report says that a third absence can result in the withdrawal of 11 days from your salary or a fine that will be 25 percent of your monthly salary.

It can also lead to a “total suspension”.

Messi earns around £ 54 million a year, so a quarter of his monthly salary is around £ 1.1 million.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is said to be unwilling to fine the player so as not to cause further deterioration in their relationship.

Messi’s father, Jorge, will meet with Bartomeu on Wednesday to reach an agreement on the player’s future.

But Barcelona’s presidential candidate Tony Freixa believes Messi will end Manchester City and could even be liberating for the Catalan club.

“I think he is likely to move to Man City,” Freixa told Goal. “With Pep, Messi lived his brightest years in Barcelona. It would be logical for both of them to work together again. City, like almost all English clubs, also have the financial means to build a team that can win anything.

“In life everything comes to an end at some point, and even if there is no longer a player like Messi, his departure would be an opportunity for Barça to become a team less dependent on a single player.

“Messi’s influence on the Barça game has been immense in recent years. The style of play was designed to give you the ball and expect you to do something magical with it. Without him, the group would have more demand. That can also be liberating. “