By Daily Sports on September 7, 2020
Barcelona’s all-time top scorer Lionel Messi has returned to training following his failed attempt to force a move away from the club.
Messi, 33, submitted a transfer request on 25 August but said last Friday he would stay because it is “impossible” for any team to pay his release clause.
It is the first time the Argentine has trained with his team-mates since the arrival of new manager Ronald Koeman.
Barcelona begin their La Liga campaign against Villarreal on 27 September.
Messi failed to attend the club's testing for Covid-19 on 30 August and has been absent from training since sending a fax informing the club of his wish to exercise a clause in his contract which he believed would allow him to leave for free with immediate effect.
Both Barcelona and La Liga insisted that clause was no longer valid – with any club wishing to buy him required to pay a release clause of 700m euros (£624m).
La Liga president Javier Tebas said at the launch of the 2020-21 La Liga season on Monday he was “never seriously worried” Messi would leave Barcelona this summer.
“We want Messi to be with us. He is the best player in the history of football and we want him to end his career in La Liga,” said Tebas.
“He has been with us for 20 years and we are so pleased he is staying with us and not going to another league.” (BBC)
•PHOTO: Lionel Messi
Source Daily Sports
Posted September 7, 2020
You may also like...
Oshoba eyes Commonwealth title in UK
Martin’s Death: No Medics, No Matches, Sports Ministry...
Bayern Spank Duesseldorf to Reclaim Top Spot
Manchester City Star Mahrez Proposes To Girlfriend With...
Marathoner against Stevens-Johnson syndrome completes 717-kms trek from...
Newcastle extend Premier League unbeaten run to eight...
Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Aspinall requires further tests on eye injury in UK
Real Madrid impress but Vinicius tension grows - Clasico talking points
Rooney says struggling Liverpool lack leadership
NOC To Host FinalIOC Advanced Sport Management Course Module
4 Teams Lock Horns For N10m Tiger 5-Aside Football Battle In Awka
Nezianya, Odikpo, Balepo, Ndukuba, Chukwuleta For SWAN @60 Veterans’ Awards
Anambra FA Crisis: Igbokwe, 61 Years Old Football Administrator Protests Arrest, Detention
Gala European record thrills Osimhen
La Liga: 'I am enjoying football at Barca', Rashford eyes permanent move
CAF nomination thrills Flying Eagles captain
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,273 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,477 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,428 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,036 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,015 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,988 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,818 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,397 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,512 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,052 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,491 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,953 views)