Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he wants to leave the club.
The potential end of a 19-year relationship was set in motion with a fax.
Multiple reports in Spain say that the 33-year old sent a burofax, informing the club of his wish to exercise a clause in his contract which allows him to leave for free at the end of a season.
Barcelona's argument is that that clause expired on June 10, and so would command a release clause of €700million.
New Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman made it clear last week that he wanted Messi to stay at the Camp Nou.
The Dutchman told his unveiling press conference, "He is the best player in the world and the best player in the world you want in your team, you don't want him playing against you."
Koeman spoke with Messi on Friday, but according to numerous reports, Messi was not won over by the former Everton boss' vision and that he still saw himself leaving more than staying.
Formal indication of his intention to go has rocked the Camp Nou.
👏👏
— Luis Suarez (@LuisSuarez9) August 25, 2020
Barcelona have called an emergency board meeting to tend to the matter of the best player in the world potentially leaving for nothing.
It could be that his final game of a glittering Barcelona career is an 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
While Koeman wanted Messi to remain, others weren't feeling the love.
Luis Suarez was reportedly told he was not part of the new head coach's plans, and that he would listen to offers for the Uruguayan.
That's potentially informed Suarez's reaction to the Messi bombshell.
On Tuesday evening, former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol tweeted to say, "Respect and admiration, Leo. All my support, friend."
Suarez responded with an applause emoji.
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