This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction
football11 hours ago
Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave - on a free transfer - in a "bombshell" fax on Tuesday that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract "unilaterally" by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP.
Relations have plummeted this year and speculation swirled about Messi's departure after this month's humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Bayern Munich, which left Barca without a trophy for the first time since 2007.
If Messi is to leave @FCBarcelona by activating a release clause, then I hope the club try to help, not hinder him. He's been fiercely loyal and their greatest ever player. It would be terribly sad if it finished with a fight between the player and the club.The 33-year-old's demand, faxed by his lawyers, prompted protests against Barcelona's under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu outside the Camp Nou where Messi, synonymous with the club's most successful period, is worshipped by fans.
- Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 25, 2020
Just heard Frank Lampard is now in for #messi"I prefer to think it's an ultimatum given to management for Bartomeu to go."
Some window this if Lamps pulls this off !!
- Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) August 25, 2020
Respeto y admiración, Leo. Todo mi apoyo, amigo.Barcelona have yet to react officially but are understood to believe Messi's release clause expired in June, and that he remains under contract until the end of the 2021 season.
- Carles Puyol (@Carles5puyol) August 25, 2020
And so the destruction is complete.Argentine sports daily Ole described Messi's wish to leave as a "complete bombshell", but he has had regular disagreements with the club's board in recent times.
- Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) August 25, 2020
This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction
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