Messi submits transfer request to leave Barcelona, amidst Man City interest

Deepak Selvan 5 years ago

Lionel Messi celebrates scoring a goal for Barcelona

Lionel Messi is viewed by many, if not most, as the best football player of all-time. The legendary footballer has played all his club career at Barcelona but has grown increasingly frustrated over the way the club is being managed by the board of directors, under President Josep Maria Bartomeu.

As per the Goal, the 33 year old has finally submitted transfer request via fax, asking the club to let him activate the transfer clause that would allow him to leave on a free transfer this summer.

Messi has been reportedly unhappy for a while at the Catalan capital but the 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich is viewed as the breaking point in his already strained relationship with the Barcelona board.

Coach Quique Setien and technical manager Eric Abidal were sacked but Bartemou hoped Messi would stay with the arrival of Ronald Koeman. The Barcelona President went on to assure fans that Messi would stay at Barcelona until the end of his playing career.

The new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman couldn’t convince Messi to stay and the Argentine’s decision would impact the elections at the Catalan club, which has been postponed to March by President Bartemou.

Only few clubs can afford Messi’s wages and the Argentine has been linked with Manchester City numerous times in the past. However, Manchester City have stuck to a strict structure on wages and it remains to be seen whether the blue side of Manchester will make an exception to bring football’s greatest ever player to England.

If City make an approach, they would be the front-runners to sign Messi given his relationship with City legend Aguero. Messi has seriously considered moving to Manchester City in the past but his love for Barcelona made him stay, until this season where his relationship with the board has broken down beyond repair.

Inter and PSG are the other clubs interested in the veteran player. Messi has won 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League 4 times, in addition to winning the Balon D’or a record six times.

Deepak Selvan

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Deepak Selvan is the Chief Football Correspondent at LosMejor. He writes about the Premier League, Champions League and the complicated financial affairs in European and World Football.