Lionel Messi Is Not Ruling Out Staying At FC Barcelona Beyond 2021, Despite Exit Attempt

Lionel Messi isn’t ruling out staying at FC Barcelona beyond the summer of 2021 despite recently attempting to engineer a move out of the club, a report claims.

Almost a fortnight ago, Messi shocked the soccer world by sending a burofax to the Camp Nou which communicated a wish to unilaterally cancel his contract with the Catalans.

The Argentine believed himself to be a free agent for some time, but when Barça and La Liga both came out and contested that his deal and release clause were still intact, Messi eventually caved and dramatically announced he was staying with his employers of 20 years before the weekend.

His current agreement officially expires on June 30 next year then, and now that the dust is beginning to settle, it is being alleged by some corners that Messi could extend his career with the Blaugrana and resist offers from the likes of Manchester City and PSG.

On Sunday morning, SPORT primarily point to the fact that by mid-March, a new president will have been elected by socios that will see Messi’s arch-nemesis Josep Bartomeu finally ousted.

Victor Font the favorite to succeed him, the “Xavi effect” may sway Messi when his former Tiki-Taka dynasty teammate replaces current head coach Ronald Koeman in the dugout.

Last, but definitely not least considering how important they were in his decision not to push harder and put Barça through to the courts to force a departure, is the player’s family.

“When I communicated my wish to leave to my wife and children, it was a brutal drama. The whole family began crying, my children did not want to leave Barcelona, nor did they want to change schools,” he explained to Goal.com on Friday, as part of his U-turn announcement.

Though like he, his wife Antonella was born and raised in Rosario, the Messis have built a life in the Catalan capital.

Their three sons were born and are evidently settled there, living comfortably in the western beach suburb of Castelldefels, and to uproot them between the ages of two, four and seven to a new country with a new language and culture to absorb for the sake of a two-year jaunt in England or France may not be the wisest decision.

Barça continue to fail on the pitch, and their next leaders need to convince Messi their sporting project is viable. Yet now assessing the situation with a cooler head, there are more reasons for the Ballon d’Or holder to retire a one-club man than seek pastures new.