Messi’s Barca exit clause expires

The clause in Lionel Messi’s contract that would have allowed him to leave Barcelona on a free transfer this summer has expired, according to Sky Sports.

The Argentinian superstar has had a rather turbulent season, during which he clashed with the Barcelona board, but the fact that he has chosen not to leave the club a year before the expiration of his current contract is widely understood as an indicator that their differences have been settled, or at least set aside for the time being. During those troubles, Messi was repeatedly linked with Inter Milan, but it seems that the hopes of the Serie A club of securing the services of record six-time Ballon d’Or winner, if they every had any, are now dashed. Before that, there were some suggestions that he could join up with former Barca boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but Guardiola himself quickly dismissed those rumours.

At Barcelona they believe that the 32-year-old will be there not only for next season, but extend his stay at the Camp Nou for at least five more years.