Agency :
Lionel Messi’s father will hold further talks with Barcelona amid claims the Argentina ace could now sign a contract extension and admit defeat in his plan to leave Camp Nou this summer.
Jorge Messi, who acts as his son’s agent, first met Barca chiefs on Wednesday and held further discussions on Thursday – and it appears a U-turn may be on the cards.
Messi informed Barcelona he wanted to leave at the end of August, and demanded he be allowed to invoke a clause in his contract which would allow him to walk away for free.
However, according to TyC Sports in Argentina – which broke the news of Messi’s faxed transfer request – the 33-year-old could now pen a contract extension, with a stay in Catalonia claimed to be ’90 per cent likely’.
This is amid interest from Manchester City, who want to sign Messi to reunite him with former Barca head coach Pep Guardiola.
Such reports are further supported by Spanish outlet Marca, who claim Messi has been offered a new contract to 2022. Messi’s current deal expires in 2021 and the offer from Barca is said to include a clause which means he can leave next summer if he so wishes.
Messi’s apparent change of heart comes after his father’s talks with club chiefs.
Marca claim Barca are adamant they will not sell Messi, which means he would have to terminate his contract at a court of law, but he does not want to leave Camp Nou on such poor terms after a legal battle.
Ahead of his first meeting with president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Wednesday, Jorge Messi admitted it would be ‘difficult’ for his son to remain in Catalonia.
Given Man City’s financial clout and the lure of working again with Guardiola, the Etihad club have been the most strongly linked club to the Barca skipper.
But when asked whether the Premier League club was a good option, Jorge Messi said: “I don’t know. There’s nothing yet.” He added that he has not yet spoken to City boss Guardiola, saying: “No. (I didn’t talk) to anyone.”
Ramon Calderon, the former Real Madrid president, joined talkSPORT on Thursday and admitted he was doubtful a summer transfer would actually happen – largely due to the legal proceedings which would follow.
“Messi was frustrated mainly when they were beaten 8-2 – it was a humiliating defeat to Bayern Munich – and he thinks his time in Barcelona is over,” began Calderon.
Lionel Messi’s father will hold further talks with Barcelona amid claims the Argentina ace could now sign a contract extension and admit defeat in his plan to leave Camp Nou this summer.
Jorge Messi, who acts as his son’s agent, first met Barca chiefs on Wednesday and held further discussions on Thursday – and it appears a U-turn may be on the cards.
Messi informed Barcelona he wanted to leave at the end of August, and demanded he be allowed to invoke a clause in his contract which would allow him to walk away for free.
However, according to TyC Sports in Argentina – which broke the news of Messi’s faxed transfer request – the 33-year-old could now pen a contract extension, with a stay in Catalonia claimed to be ’90 per cent likely’.
This is amid interest from Manchester City, who want to sign Messi to reunite him with former Barca head coach Pep Guardiola.
Such reports are further supported by Spanish outlet Marca, who claim Messi has been offered a new contract to 2022. Messi’s current deal expires in 2021 and the offer from Barca is said to include a clause which means he can leave next summer if he so wishes.
Messi’s apparent change of heart comes after his father’s talks with club chiefs.
Marca claim Barca are adamant they will not sell Messi, which means he would have to terminate his contract at a court of law, but he does not want to leave Camp Nou on such poor terms after a legal battle.
Ahead of his first meeting with president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Wednesday, Jorge Messi admitted it would be ‘difficult’ for his son to remain in Catalonia.
Given Man City’s financial clout and the lure of working again with Guardiola, the Etihad club have been the most strongly linked club to the Barca skipper.
But when asked whether the Premier League club was a good option, Jorge Messi said: “I don’t know. There’s nothing yet.” He added that he has not yet spoken to City boss Guardiola, saying: “No. (I didn’t talk) to anyone.”
Ramon Calderon, the former Real Madrid president, joined talkSPORT on Thursday and admitted he was doubtful a summer transfer would actually happen – largely due to the legal proceedings which would follow.
“Messi was frustrated mainly when they were beaten 8-2 – it was a humiliating defeat to Bayern Munich – and he thinks his time in Barcelona is over,” began Calderon.
