Following a summer of back and forths, of accusations and counter-accusations, and of a very talented but frustrated footballer desperate to move on, it appears an end is in sight.
Several major media outlets and sports journalists have stated that Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona at least for another season.
Messi’s expression of his desire to leave Barcelona sent shockwaves through the world of football and left fans of the Spanish giants scrambling.
Frustrated by recent goings-on at the club and humiliated by Barcelona’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich, Messi wants out immediately.
The player cited a clause in his contract which allows him to leave Barcelona for free at the end of every season but Barcelona, unwilling to let their star asset leave so easily, claim the clause expired in June, and any potential buyer would have to pay Messi’s astronomical £623million release clause.
The situation became so heated that even La Liga have jumped in, siding with the club in the dispute, with suggestions that the league is desperate not to lose Messi, a few years after Cristiano Ronaldo switched camps to the Italian Serie A.
The Argentine was locked in an impasse with the club, which threatened to boil over into a very hostile situation.
Every team was interested in getting Messi but only a handful had the financial muscle to try and prise the Argentine away from Barcelona.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Messi had agreed personal terms on a deal worth £623 million with Man City. while Inter Milan were also said to be a preferred destination for Messi.
The stories intensified after the player refused to join the side for preseason and missed the team’s medical tests.
However, with news trickling in that he will remain at the Catalan club, fans of opposing clubs, Juventus and Man United, in particular, have wasted no time making fun of City and Inter.
Here are some of the best tweets:
LMFAOOO City really thought they were getting him pic.twitter.com/6XBkQ5n1G0
— 🅱hargav (@ThatIndianGuy) September 4, 2020
LETS LAUGH AT CITY FANS 😭😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😭😭😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Femi🌊™️ (@Mcsaucee) September 4, 2020
Every year 😂 pic.twitter.com/8sl6tb3D05
— ً (@alliiiooo) September 4, 2020
When Messi tries to dump Barcelona ;
Koeman: pic.twitter.com/sOg2iDdR5O— M̷r̷ ̷A̷y̷o̷o̷l̷a̷ (@MrAyoola1) September 4, 2020
Didn’t even want messi anyway pic.twitter.com/andYPZwvrE
— JC (@jacksulmancity) September 4, 2020
Bartomeu: “Messi? Yes, it’s true that he wants to leave. However, I have locked him up in my basement, so he will have to stay.”
[ @HagridFCB ] pic.twitter.com/QW6SwEMTeZ
— BarcaPrison🚨 (@BarcaPrison) September 4, 2020
City fans thought they genuinely had a chance of signing Messi 😭
— 🌊™️ (@RealistGlizzy) September 4, 2020
After a short period at @inter, Messi will return to Barcelona for the 2020-2021 season.
Serie A will miss him. pic.twitter.com/DXjSBhxFQR
— Juventus | 𝕁 (@FinoAllaFine_Jj) September 4, 2020
Messi being held against his will for another year by not only Barcelona, but by La Liga as well. Not sure if we’re supposed to expect his best or worst year this season.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) September 4, 2020
Let’s all laugh at Manchester City not getting Messi 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— • (@Ifcmatt) September 4, 2020
📊 FT: Bartomeu 3 – 2 Messi Family
Even Messi can’t beat this guy! pic.twitter.com/qPLTZslFRk
— City Chief (@City_Chief) September 4, 2020
Messi’s statement to the Barca fans that he’s staying pic.twitter.com/aXCSboJV60
— Pøgba Senior (@TheSaItIsHere) September 4, 2020
So now that Messi isn’t joining City, ‘That night in court’ remains the biggest moment in their history 😭😭
— mike🦎 (@lfcmichxe1) September 4, 2020
Barca not signing anyone and forcing Messi to stay so they can get out of the knockout stage of the UCL to an even more ridiculous score line that makes Messi look bad pic.twitter.com/kr9he7vJd5
— T’Chale (@Amegaxi) September 4, 2020
Messi: I want to leave. I must leave. I’m tired ah. Dfkm
*Sees first fixture is Elche*
Messi: pic.twitter.com/j2NxLZePxo
— Beardless FineBoy ➐ (@_giwasegun) September 4, 2020
Messi when he sees Barcelona let Rakitic, Vidal and Suarez go but not him pic.twitter.com/d73PJO23Lk
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) September 4, 2020
Messi realised he’d only be the 3rd best winger in the league if he joined so he bottled it pic.twitter.com/zamwGUiNFI
— ً (@TheImmortalKop) September 4, 2020
Barcelona fans right now 🤣 #Messi pic.twitter.com/EIe5YAMBap
— Adriano Del Monte (@adriandelmonte) September 4, 2020
Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona like: pic.twitter.com/Mr1mWx4B9i
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) September 4, 2020