FC Barcelona Skipper Lionel Messi Threatens To Leave Club If These Demands Are Not Fulfilled: Report

FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi reportedly has threatened to leave the club if the management failed to fulfill his demands.

There were reports that Messi is unhappy with Barcelona on and off the field. He even admitted to the media persons that Barca cannot win the UEFA Champions League, the trophy which they won last in 2015, with the current set of players.

The issues got escalated when Barca’s sporting director Eric Abidal told a Spanish media firm that he did not believe the team was working hard under the management of the now-sacked boss, Ernesto Valverde. Those remarks in media id did not go well with the club’s captain, who then took to social media to criticize his former teammate.

The recent issue happened when Barcelona’s assistant coach Eder Sarabia reacted angrily in front of the camera on Barca’s loss to Real Madrid in the latest El Classico.

As reported by Don Balon, Messi has presented a couple of demands to Barca’s board and if those are satisfied, the captain could well leave Nou Camp. Even though Messi’s contract is until the end of 2021, a clause allows him to leave the club as a free agent this summer.

The news report revealed that one of Messi’s demands is that Barca should re-sign Neymar, who had moved to the French side, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017. Neymar, who has not struck well with PSG, has been desperate to return to Barca. Even the Catalans have been OK with that but the Brazilian super star’s transfer fee at PSG has been a problem for the La Liga champions.

PSG reportedly are quoting nearly $220 million and hence, Barca have been unable to afford to bring back Neymar. In the upcoming summer transfer window, Barca could well offer PSG forward Ousmane Dembele as well as $165m to get back Neymar to the Nou Camp. If that happens, Barca’s famous "MSN" will unite. Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar formed one of the most dangerous trios when the attackers played together for the Catalans between 2015 and 2017.

Messi’s other demand is understood to be Abidal’s departure from Barca’s board.

At present, all the soccer leagues including Spain’s La Liga are suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Barca are two points clear on the top of the La Liga table ahead of Real Madrid and Seville.