Lionel Messi was
absent from Barcelona’s training ground for coronavirus tests on Sunday
morning. His absence raises the possibility of him boycotting the pre-season to
force his way out of the club. While he was scheduled for testing at 10:15 am,
he had sent instructions to his club through his lawyers that he would not take
part in the tests.

Without passing a
coronavirus test, Messi will be unable to attend Ronald Koeman’s first
pre-season training session on Monday, with the start of the new La Liga season
less than two weeks away. Had Messi made an appearance at Barcelona’s training
ground, it would’ve been his first public outing since the burofax that stated
his intention to leave for free.

According to a
report in AFP, taking part in the team’s pre-season programme ahead of La Liga
starting on September 12 could damage his legal case if his departure ends up
being settled in court.

Barcelona
insist a clause included in Messi’s contract that allowed him to go for free
this summer had to be activated by June 10 and is therefore no longer valid.

The only way
Messi will be allowed to depart, the club argues, is through his release
clause, set at 700 million euros ($833 million) until his contract expires on
June 30, 2021.

But Messi’s
side believe the clause refers not to a specific date but to 10 days after the
end of the season, which this year was extended into August due to the
pandemic, with the Champions League final only played last weekend.

Messi had
joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old boy, and was expected to continue all the way through
to retirement.