Lionel Messi’s only option away from Barcelona as Man City end transfer interest

PSG reportedly remain as Lionel Messi’s only option should the Argentine leave Barcelona this summer.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is out of contract at the Nou Camp come the end of the season.

He had been linked with a move to Manchester City last summer as Messi believed a clause in his contract meant he could have left for free.

However that was proven to not be the case and he remained at the La Liga giants for another year at least.

Though with his contract now into its final months, questions are still to be answered over Messi’s future.

Spanish outlet Sport claim Manchester City have pulled out of the running as they believe Messi will renew at the Nou Camp and stay with Barcelona.

And the report adds that PSG are now seen as Messi’s only option for if he wants to leave the club where he has spent his whole career.

In the summer, Messi said: “I thought and was sure that I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not.

“Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season.

“And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club. Now I am going to continue in the club because the president told me that the only way to leave was to pay the €700 million (£624m/$823m) clause, and that this is impossible.”

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  • Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned as president earlier this season with Joan Laporta replacing him.

    Laporta has said on Messi’s future: "I take the opportunity to say again that I will try to convince Leo (Messi) to stay with us. That is a must-do task, I will do all I can. He knows it.

    "Whatever he does will be OK but we will try to make him stay because he is the best player in the history of football.

    "And my apologies Leo, for saying this right here and right now, but you know of my love for you, Barca loves you a lot and if this stadium would be full when you play the next game I am sure you wouldn't be able to leave."

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