Stunner: Messi Could Finally Be Staying At Barcelona

Lionel Messi is considering backtracking on his decision to leave Barcelona.

The news comes from Marca following the second day of meetings between Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, and Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

After the meeting, Jorge relayed to Lionel that Barca were unequivocal in their belief that the 33-year-old would only be allowed to leave if clubs met his 700 million euros release clause.

Mundo Deportivo also reports that Jorge was asked if Lionel was “thinking of continuing until 2021 and then going free”, to which he replied: “Yes.”

Messi believes he is allowed to walk for free but would have to challenge Barca in court to do so.

The Argentine does not want to enter a legal dispute with a club whom he loves deeply.

Therefore, Messi will now contemplate seeing out the last year of his contract and potentially leaving next summer.

Both Manchester City and PSG are wary of getting involved with a transfer if the courts become involved.

The potential suitors wanted Messi to be able to negotiate as a free agent, but that no longer seems a possibility.