While the wait to hear from Lionel Messi goes on, Barcelona continue to do everything they can to try to convince him to stay.
The club has told Messi that president Josep Bartomeu will resign if that is what it takes to keep the playmaker, but Barcelona said on Friday there was no word yet from Messi on the offer.
Bartomeu is willing to step down on the condition that Messi publicly says that the president was the reason for the Argentina star wanting to leave, Barcelona said while confirming reports from Spanish media.
Messi on Tuesday expressed his desire to leave by sending Barcelona a burofax — a certified document similar to a telegram — invoking a contract clause that allowed him to depart after the end of the season. Barcelona said the clause expired on
Without directly accusing Bartomeu, Messi has been outspoken against the club’s decisions this season, the team’s first without a title since 2007-08. Messi publicly complained about former director Éric Abidal after he criticised the players’ efforts following a series of poor results in February. Abidal left Barcelona after the team’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Messi reportedly later talked to incoming coach Ronald Koeman and told him he saw himself more out than in the club at that moment.
After not being able to maximize Samuel Umtiti on the defensive end last season due to a series of recurring injuries, Barcelona has put the defender up for sale and loan this summer, with Arsenal being mentioned as a top suitor, a report said.
Upon the arrival of new Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, the club began its major rebuilding processes. At this point, only a few players are believed to be untouchable at Barca. In fact, one of the outcasts heavily linked to a move away from Camp Nou is once-phenomenal signing Umtiti.
With no proper contract extension offers from Barca yet, Umtiti’s time at Camp Nou could be over. The Catalans are now listening to loan offers but are also open to selling the struggling defender to other clubs, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported.
The appointment of Koeman as boss saw the Frenchman not being handed a chance to re-establish himself as Barcelona’s key player. Umtiti is still tied with Barca until 2023 and is said to be unwilling to leave and discuss his possible exit at this point.
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Back in England, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will look to further fund the club’s massive summer spending spree by raking in close to £80million through player sales.
The Blues have already been the biggest spenders in Europe in this transfer window and are not finished yet, with several other signings in the offing.
Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr, and Thiago Silva have all arrived for around £120m and Kai Havertz is close to joining for £80m.
Chelsea hardly spend a penny over the last two years after being slapped with a transfer ban but are trying to make up for that this summer.
A top four finish in the Premier League last term ensured the club can offer potential recruits Champions League football if they join.
To help fund his other targets Lampard can boost his coffers through selling some players who will likely be deemed surplus to requirements next season.
