It looked as if Ronald Koeman, the new coach of FC Barcelona, was not going to experience it anymore, but on Monday afternoon Lionel Messi reported to the training complex of the Catalan club. The 33-year-old star player has started there to prepare for the new season.
Koeman trained on Joan Gamper Ciutat Esportiva in Sant Joan Despi with a thinned selection, because many players have flown out due to international obligations. It is unclear whether Messi trained with the group or completed an individual program.
Whether the conflict between the Argentinian and FC Barcelona is now over remains to be seen, but a quick departure from Messi seems to have been averted. And it seemed to be heading in that direction when the six-time World Player of the Year, who since his debut in the main squad in 2003, has won ten league titles and won the Champions League four times, announced that he wanted to leave on August 25.
Discontent
Messi thus expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs at FC Barcelona, which ended last season without a prize for the first time in twelve years. Especially club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his policy had to pay. A conversation with Koeman did not change the mind of the attacker.
The contractually agreed lump sum of 700 million euros succeeded. Going to court might have offered solace, but Messi did not want to do that to the club that brought him so much. And so he announced last Friday that he would still stay at Barça and serve his contract expiring in 2021.
Coronatest
Because the regretful had not yet undergone the mandatory corona test, he was still missing from Saturday’s group training. Today the Argentinian was still present.
Barcelona will play the first exhibition match against Gimnastic Tarragona on Saturday. Last season’s number two – behind rival Real Madrid – starts the competition in Spain on September 27 with the home game against Villarreal.
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