Messi to stay at Barca

Lionel Messi has no intention of leaving Barcelona this summer, according to Sky Sports.

The whole football world had their eyebrows raised as a row between the Argentinian superstar and Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal broke out publicly, with Messi reacting rather angrily to Abidal laying the blame for the sacking of Ernesto Valverde from the head coach position on the squad.

Speculative reports broke out immediately, claiming the 32-year-old had begun thinking his future over. Manchester City were sounded out as his likeliest destination, before manager Pep Guardiola dismissed the links.

And it seems now that the whole story was simply an overreaction from the media. Messi felt compelled to come out and defend himself and his teammates, as well as to make it clear that he doesn’t call the shots at the club. And though he does have an escape clause in his contract allowing him to leave for free in the summer, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner plans to see the deal out, which means staying at least until the summer of 2021.