Lionel Messi tried to leave Barcelona this summer but later realized that his sudden departure will only lead to legal complications. On Friday, the Barca captain decided to stay at Camp Nou for another season and according to one La Liga expert, the Argentine superstar will play his last days in Spain.
Messi sent word to the Barcelona board of his decision to leave on the belief he can do so on a free transfer. The club, however, sent a reply that informed the player his option to walk away at no cost is no longer available. That clause on Messi's contract expired on June 10.
The Catalans said if the 33-year-old wishes to pursue his planned exit from the organization, a transfer fee is part of the deal. Before he can join up a new team, payment of £630 million is required and the alternative is a legal confrontation in court.
Messi opted for the easy way out of the problem. He will stay one more season with the Spanish giants, which Terry Gibson is a decision that could prod the Argentine to extend for a few more years. Gibson, described by Goal as a La Liga expert, sees the football icon staying with Barcelona until he retires.
"I hope he does stay and finishes his main career here ... It would have been nice to see him end his career the way he wanted to, which is just playing for Barcelona," the pundit was reported as saying.
Gibson said it seemed unthinkable that Messi will leave where everything started for him. The analyst pointed out that Messi's life is in Barcelona and his family is settled in the city so leaving these all behind should be out of the option.
The expert said Messi is practically the "King of Catalunya" so leaving for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner seemed out of the option.
However, Sid Lowe, writing for ESPN, offered a contradicting picture on Messi's last season with the Catalans. Lowe said it was clear that for the Barcelona star, he is on a new start and his days with the Spanish side are numbered.
The team captain offered an explanation of why he wanted to bolt out of the club and his words indicated a resolve to moving forward. Messi is "emotionally checked out" and his last season will be played due to a legal obligation.
The Argentine did commit to seeing through his contract with the club but couldn't hide the fact that he remains an angry and unwilling member of the Barcelona roster. That should mean that Messi does not intend to wear the same shirt beyond the summer of 2021.
