Report: Messi's father meeting Barcelona president to settle dispute

Lionel Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, will urge Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu to release his son from his contract when the two meet Wednesday in the Catalan capital, sources told ESPN’s Moises Llorens and Alex Kirkland.

Bartomeu will reportedly counter with a two-year contract extension.

Jorge Messi is flying from Argentina to arrange his son’s departure from Barcelona, the only club he’s ever played for. Messi’s camp argues he’s already rescinded his contract, having activated a termination clause that allows him to walk away. But the club maintains that Messi’s €700-million release clause is still valid and any team interested in signing the six-time Ballon d’Or winner must pay it in full.

Messi was absent from Barcelona’s first preseason training session Monday, further escalating tensions between the two sides. He also missed the club’s first round of coronavirus testing Sunday.

Victor Font, a candidate in Barcelona’s upcoming presidential elections, told Sky Sports it’s unlikely Messi will reverse his decision to leave.

“There’s always hope, and therefore I really hope that the decision can be changed,” Font said. “It doesn’t seem likely, and therefore, if that’s not going to be possible, the focus should be to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible and that the ties between Messi and Barcelona, that go very deep, remain there so that we can ensure that, somehow, the relationship continues in the future.”

Manchester City are considered the favorites to land the 33-year-old and are reportedly prepared to offer Barcelona a player-plus-cash package worth up to €150 million.

Messi’s contract with the Blaugrana expires in June 2021.