Lionel Messi leaves Barcelona: fans went to Camp Nou and begged him to stay

08/26/2020 - 15:37

• Clarín.com
• sports

Barcelona is still in shock. Lionel Messi's decision to leave the Catalan team impacted the leaders and also the fans, who came spontaneously on Tuesday night around the Camp Nou offices to ask for the resignation of President Josep Maria Bartomeu and the latter Wednesday they met in the same place to beg the Argentine to stay .

Self-convened on social networks, and pushed by the motion of censure requested by an opposition candidate, dozens of Barcelona supporters with team shirts and the Argentine national team expressed their feelings, in a last attempt for Leo to review his decision to leave.

Shouting "Messi, stay" and "Bartomeu, resign" , the fans gathered during the Catalan afternoon, among other things with the aim that the demonstration provokes an early departure from the current leadership.

Flags against Bartomeu and in support of Messi around the Camp Nou. AFP photo

They also manifested in dialogue with the media present in the place, that Bartomeu must leave if he is "a true culé" and they asked Messi to speak because - they insisted - it is not "the way" to leave the club where he was formed as a footballer. "Barcelona needs you, you will see Bartomeu's corpse pass by . He must go, not you," remarked a woman in dialogue with TyC Sports.

Barça fans now sing at the Barça offices at the Camp Nou offices "MESSI STAY MESSI STAY" #fcb #fcblive pic.twitter.com/DLrlDcWF1Q

Earlier, the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau , could not avoid questions about Messi at the press conference in which he announced the start of the next school year. The official has said that she hopes "everything possible is done" so that Leo remains at the club because his departure "would be bad news."

"Barça has gone through enormous difficulties and great crises and has always resurfaced. I am convinced that it will succeed," she added.

In the last hours, it emerged that Lionel Messi will appear on Sunday morning at the Ciutat Deportiva Joan Gamper to perform the PCR test for coronavirus and that on Monday he will be at the start of the preseason under the command of Ronald Koeman, the new coach .

Dozens of fans gathered at the Camp Nou to ask for Messi's continuity. AFP photo

The decision would have to do with a legal strategy and not because Leo changes his decision to leave the club. Apparently, the Argentine does not want to risk a sanction and intends to achieve a departure on good terms from the team in which he developed his entire career.

Meanwhile, from the club they assure that Leo's proposal has no legal basis and affirm that, with the deadline to claim the action, if he wants to leave the club he will have to pay the termination clause first: 700 million euros.