Picture Credit: Getty Images
Lionel Messi left FC Barcelona to join PSG in one of the most sensational transfers in club football this summer. However, it is no secret that the Argentine skipper had expressed his desire to leave the club last year as well. There were lot of speculations about Messi's disagreements with the club management at that time but Barcelona had somehow managed to convince the footballer to stay.
But now, few days after Messi's move to PSG, details about a burofax has been revealed which the footballer had reportedly sent to former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu. The burofax which has been obtained by Mundo Deportivo was notably sent on August 24 2020, just nine days after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 UCL defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Details about Messi's burofax that he sent to Josep Bartomeu:
The burofax read, "I understand that the time frame of the right of unilateral termination without cause regulated by the aforementioned clause must be interpreted in accordance with the exceptional circumstances in which the 2019/20 football competition season has taken place, due to the state of emergency and the situation of force majeure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
"Due to these exceptional circumstances, the 2019/20 competition season ended yesterday, without prejudice to the fact that for our team, this end took place on August 15, when we returned to Barcelona after our elimination from the Champions League on the night of August 14," it added.
Towards the end, Messi stated, "In any case, within 10 days following the end of the season of competition, and thus meeting the agreed deadline for exercising the aforementioned clause 3.1., in accordance with the material contract of our agreement, which must be interpreted in accordance with the exceptional circumstances of the 2019/20 season, I exercise my right to terminate the contract with effect from August 30, 2020, with the consequences provided for in the aforementioned stipulation 3.1."
Messi tried to end his contract at Barca
The 34-year-old was genuinely upset with Barcelona board at that time and was very keen on leaving the club, which is very evident from the burofax. However, Messi was forced to stay at the club as he eventually went on to register 38 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions.