FC Barcelona great Lionel Messi has recently expressed his unwillingness to be a part of the side as his contract with the club is due to expire next year.
Messi is the “All-time top-scorer” of Barcelona has reportedly hinted on not signing any further contract extension with defending La Liga champions, as reported by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
The 33-year-old forward was to sign a new deal with the club, meaning his stay at the club would have extended till 2023 but now he has changed his mind and willing to leave when his deal expires.
As per the reports, Messi and his father discussed on renewing his last deal with the club during 2017-18 season but the Argentine great is no more interested in the deal due to some of the reasons he has cited regarding the side in the last few months.
Apparently, he is unhappy with the way media has portrayed him as the responsible one behind all the haphazard events taking place within the club. One such incident includes the sacking of the coach Ernesto Valverde which led him to last out at the Club’s sporting director Eric Abidal.
The very next month Messi also declared that the side lacked the intent to win even win this season’s Champions League. It was followed by an incident when he criticised the board members of the club for alleging that players were not willing to accept a pay-cut during the financial crisis during the coronavirus pandemic.
Messi has been vocal against the club since the last year, which surely comes as a surprise after his association with the club for such a long time.
Messi turned 33 last month and he also scored 700th goal of his professional career against Atletico de Madrid this week, unfortunately, the match ended on a draw by 2-2 score.
Barcelona is currently 2nd in the La Liga Standings with 70 points, behind their arch-rivals Real Madrid as they sit atop with 22 wins and 74 points.