We Are Not Contemplating Any Kind Of Departure – Barcelona Expresses Desire To Retain Messi

Barcelona through their sporting director, Ramon Planes are still trying to convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club after he expressed his desire to leave.

Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday the Argentinian sent a document expressing his desire to activate a release clause that would end his contract , which currently runs until next June and allow him to leave for free this summer.

The club are yet to officially reply but are understood to be preparing a response. Speaking at the official unveiling of €31m (£27.8m) signing Francisco Trincao on Wednesday, Planes addressed the situation, saying:

“This is evidently the important news.

Barcelona hope to build their team around Lionel Messi despite the forward’s request to leave the club “As we’ve said many times, as (Ronald) Koeman and the president have said and my position as technical secretary, we count on Messi for the future, just as we count on Trincao as a talent of the future, and we have heard that he will play alongside the greatest player in the history, the greatest player in the world.

“These things happen and we hope we will come back stronger from the defeat at the end of last season. “What’s happened has happened and our idea is to build a team around the most important player in the world.

“We are not contemplating any kind of departure because what we want is for Messi to stay.

“We only have enormous respect for Leo Messi. Barca and Leo are like a marriage, where both have given so much to each other and have brought so much joy to the fans.

“I think the future is positive. I am an optimist.

“We are putting every effort into ensuring that the relationship between Barca and Messi will continue. We are working internally to convince Leo.”

Planes presided over the press conference at which former Braga striker Trincao was presented to the media in the absence of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who had initially been expected to attend.

See the tweet below:

"We are not contemplating any kind of departure because what we want is for Messi to stay."

Will he leave the Catalan giants?

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) August 27, 2020

News Credit: Skysports