Lionel Messi has started training for the first time after declaring that he was leaving the club. The 33-year-old player will, however, train individually and separately for the coming days according to the La Liga strict regulations and protocols governing the prevention of the spread of Coronavirus amongst players. He will be allowed to join the team for training sessions at a later date.
Messi believes he should have been allowed to leave the club he has been playing for so many years due to a clause in his contract. But Barcelona put on a fight and built barriers to prevent their star player from leaving. The prolific goal scorer conceded defeat and has decided to stay in order to avoid a legal battle against the club he has been playing for his whole life.
As part of his push to exit the club, Messi was absent for the start of the preseason under the new Coach, Ronald Koeman. But he has started training after saying he was going to stay in hopes of getting back on the pitch for his team. Barcelona plays against Gimnastic in a friendly in friendly at Johan Cruyff Stadium on Saturday but Messi is not expected to play in that match. But perhaps, he might play in their match against Girona on September 16 ahead of their season opener against Villarreal.
Even though has committed to the club for the upcoming season, his future remains uncertain as his contract for Barcelona ends next summer. This gives Messi the opportunity to start negotiating with other clubs over his future coming January. Then again, the upcoming presidential elections at Barcelona could play a pivoting role in what he does next with regards to his future in relation to Barcelona. Perhaps the president elected may be able to give Messi a reason to keep playing for Barcelona.
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Edem is a writer and loves to read. He believes that writing is an instrument of expression and an advocator of ideologies that can cause significant changes to our current dispensation and the future.
