Lionel Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, has hinted at a compromise being reached at Barcelona which allows the player to remain at the club until next year.
The Argentine superstar’s representatives arrived in Catalunya on Wednesday for talks with the Barcelona board.
Jorge Messi told reporters when he touched down that he did not “know anything” about Messi’s future. He was, however, to discuss the matter with Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu amid speculation suggesting that a separation could be on the cards.
Messi has spent his entire senior career to date at Barcelona. And the 33-year-old is aware of the need to make the most of the time he has left. With Barcelona starting to falter, he has opened the door to a possible exit away from the club.
Messi dropped a bombshell when stating his intention to leave Barca, having grown frustrated with life on and off the field at the club.
It was initially suggested that he could leave for free, with an exit clause inserted into his contract that could be triggered at the end of every campaign. But it has been ruled that his £630m release clause remains active.
His father has told Mediaset that discussions with Barcelona went “well”, with there still a possibility that an agreement can be reached.
Quizzed on whether a Messi could remain at Barcelona until the end of his current contract in 2021, Jorge Messi replied with “yes”.
Ronald Koeman has already expressed a desire to keep Messi, having inherited an ageing squad from Setien, and the dutchman may get his wish when this stunning saga is brought to a close.
