08/25/2020 - 17:33
- Clarín.com
- sports
The roar of the bomb thrown by Lionel Messi on Tuesday still resounds in Barcelona, when he announced to the Barcelona leadership that he wanted to enforce the termination clause that allows him to declare himself free at the end of each season. And beyond that from the club they warned that they do not consider that their claim has legal validity and promise to fight until the last moment to retain it, the fury of the fans did not wait.
Large groups of Barcelona fans flocked to the outskirts of the Camp Nou during the Catalan night with a forceful claim: the request for the resignation of the president, Josep Maria Bartomeu , whom they consider responsible for the current situation.
Reasons for holding the manager responsible are not lacking for the fans: in recent times, it has become clear that Messi's relationship with the higher echelons of the club was strained to say the least. Something that even had public repercussions when Leo rebuked the then sports director of the institution, Eric Abidal. The departure of the Frenchman at the end of this season seemed like a wink towards Messi that, obviously, he did not reach.
"We love you, Messi stay" sing the Barcelona fans around the Camp Nou. # 25Ago #Tachira
pic.twitter.com/5ZTQlx2lVt
Among the organizers of the demonstration was a group called Tsunami Blaugrana, who called "the fans and partners to access 10 of the Camp Nou to demand the resignation of the current president of the entity, Josep Maria Bartomeu."
After Leo sent a document (burofax) to the club's offices on Tuesday to activate the exit clause of his contract that expires in the middle of next year, there was an emergency meeting by the Barcelona Board of Directors to determine the steps to follow and outline an eventual judicial strategy to try to retain him.
The bet that the club makes to twist Leo's will is to present legal arguments that discourage him and force him to back down, although it would be an unfortunate idea to force him to stay against his will, in a club that needs him at the best level to bet on rebuilding.
After Leo's decision was known, who this Monday had received a new blow with the announcement that coach Ronald Koeman would not take into account his friend Luis Suárez, about a score of Catalan fans summoned themselves in the vicinity of the stage to express their dissatisfaction with the leadership; On the other hand, a resounding demonstration is expected for this Wednesday to twist the will of the greatest idol of Barcelona.
Fans wearing Messi's shirt gathered on the outskirts of the Camp Nou. (Photo: AFP)
In the last renewal of his contract, signed in 2017, the Argentine had demanded an amendment that would allow him to leave the club at the end of each season and now he intends to shoot her to achieve his freedom.
But that clause sets the execution deadline on May 31. That was the date established as the end of the 2019-2020 season, although Leo understands that he can demand it because the last campaign had to be extended beyond that date due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be necessary to see which argument weighs more in the event that there is no agreement and the legal battle is finally fought.
Messi, 33, made a decision that for now looks final about his future, which will be out of a club immersed in a severe crisis after the elimination in the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich (8-2), which which was the worst defeat in the history of European competitions.
FK