Lionel Messi has been reminded by club president, Josep Bartomeu that he is still a Barcelona player and under contract.

Dialogues ensued between the president and Jorge Messi on Wednesday following the player’s revelation of exit from the club. The Argentine has failed to go for the club’s COVID-19 test and refused also to partake in the club's pre-season training.

In a lengthy chat yesterday between Messi’s representatives, which included his father and brother together with the Barca president and a board member, Javier Bordas, an agreement was not reached whether Messi would report to training or the Blaugrana will grant his wish to join interested clubs.

The club president spoke that they would not negotiate the sale of their captain and as far as he has a contract until June 10 next year, with a release clause of 700m euros, he is entitled to the activities of the club.

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The 33-year old is yet to make any public statement after submitting the burofax eight days ago declaring his intentions to leave. His actions towards his Barca exit seem confident from the fact he has distracted the entire team with his exit-announcement and if he had no legal backing, Messi as matured as he is would know that failure to turn up at training would lead to sanctions.

What remains now is that everyone is expecting the next line of action between both parties. The LaLiga season is a few weeks ahead and if the Messi saga is not resolved once and for all, the Barcelona team would have nothing to show for this season with Bayern 8-2 humiliation already tagged on them, a flaw that will be difficult to forget by oppositions.

Messi’s departure will make them ordinary hence their decision to keep onto the player.