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Although he was already considering his future at the Nou Camp after obviously a poor season that was humiliatingly capped by an 8-2 Champions League defeat to holders, Bayern Munich, it has been revealed that rather harsh but plain words to Messi from the new boss, Ronald Koeman, could have led the Argentine Wizkid to call it a quit at FC Barcelona.

Messi decided to hand in a transfer request after the coach frankly told him: “your privileges in the squad are over.”

The 33-year-old had been considering his future at the Nou Camp after a trophyless season ended with that humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which prompted the sacking of coach Quique Setien   

Koeman was quickly installed as Setién’s replacement, after which Messi reportedly told the Dutchman that he saw himself ‘more out of the club than in it’ having cut short his holiday to meet the Dutchman. 

Argentine news outlet Diario Olé claims at a meeting Koeman told Messi: ‘Your privileges in the squad are over, you have to do everything for the team. I’m going to be inflexible, you have to think about the team.’

The frank exchange reportedly convinced Messi that now is the time for him to leave the club.

The dramatic move piled the pressure on Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu. 

Fans were heard shouting ‘Bartomeu resign!’ outside the club’s headquarters but the president on Tuesday night insisted he is not considering resigning.

Messi communicated to Barcelona via fax on Tuesday that he wants to leave the club on a free transfer this summer.

The extraordinary development potentially puts the 33-year-old within reach of a dramatic move to Manchester City and a reunion with Pep Guardiola. 

Manchester United, PSG, Inter Milan, and Juventus are also showing early interest.

The Argentine journalist close to the player, Veronica Brunati, broke the story on Tuesday and it was subsequently confirmed by sources close to the Catalan club.

Messi’s bold move was immediately praised by Carles Puyol who tweeted: ‘Respect and admiration Leo. All my support, amigo.’ 

Puyol’s tweet was then applauded in a reply from Luis Suarez. 

Messi’s discontent is nothing new but the possibility of a free transfer is.

The suggestion is that Messi believes a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away for nothing is still valid because the season ended in August and not May because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Barcelona says the deadline for Messi to leave for free passed in June and will contest the player’s argument that the deadline changed when the season was rearranged after lockdown.

Messi is supposed to report for the new season on Sunday for a scheduled coronavirus test but has no intention of meeting up with new coach Ronald Koeman or attending Monday’s subsequent first training session. 

The bombshell opens the way to three very different scenarios:

The club could simply point to Messi’s €700million (£620m) release clause and stick to their belief that his chance to leave on a free passed in June.

They could accept that he wants to go and open negotiations to buy-out the final year of his deal as they are doing with Suarez.

Or Messi’s move could spark outrage among the club’s supporters and a vote of no-confidence in president Josep Bartomeu forcing elections.

The first of those three options is likely to be their first reaction. 

But there is a growing belief around the club that at least part of the club’s board wants Messi to leave.

The former Barcelona president Joan Laporta accused Bartomeu of wanting to sell Messi in a tweet published on Tuesday.

‘I suspect they want to sell Messi,’ he said. ‘Poor Barça in the hands of these incompetents.’

Messi earns €50m (£44m) net a season and that costs the club close to €100m (£88m) gross a year with tax payments.

The pandemic has left the club fearing a €300 (£3265m) hole in revenue for next season.

The wage bill – already making up 60 percent of income pre-pandemic – would now swallow up 80 percent of revenue and the club desperately need to reduce it.

Barcelona’s stance towards Messi has changed drastically since the 8-2 exit to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

President Bartomeu has not spoken to the club captain since the debacle and new coach Koeman has already said he does not want anyone at the club who does not want to be there.

Messi has now made it clear he wants out.

And Barcelona must decide how to react as Manchester City lead the small clutch of European clubs who would be able to pay his wages all beginning to wonder if the impossible signing is now.

Clubs will not be obliged to release their players for duty in September’s international window if it will mean a period of quarantine.
FIFA has revised its rules after consultation with UEFA, whose member associations are involved in next month’s international friendlies and Nations League matches.
With the COVID-19 crisis still affecting daily life across the planet, football’s governing body has introduced temporary measures to help to reduce the health risk to players and impact on clubs.

As such, clubs will not have to release their players to represent their countries if it would involve a mandatory period of self-isolation of at least five days.
That applies whether the period of quarantine would take place in the country of origin or arrival.
“In light of the recent evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to temporarily adapt the rules concerning the release of players during the upcoming September international window, which is to be played only by UEFA member associations,” read a statement.

“The situation of the pandemic is rapidly evolving across the world and many national governments have again implemented travel and immigration restrictions due to a renewed increase in COVID-19 infections.
“Some of these measures directly impact international competition, such as mandatory periods of quarantine or self-isolation and travel restrictions.

“As a result, in order to ensure that the well-being and health of all individuals involved in international competition is respected, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has, after consultation with UEFA, decided that the general rules which normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches should not apply in the following instances:
– there is a mandatory period of quarantine or self-isolation of at least five days upon arrival at:
– the location of the club which has an obligation to release the player to an association team; or
– the location where a representative team match is scheduled to take place;
– there is a travel restriction to or from either location (a. or b. above); and
– no specific exemption from the relevant authorities relating to the above decisions has been granted to players of a representative team.

“Furthermore, all participants in matches during international windows must abide by the health and safety protocols established by the relevant competition organiser.”
The revised measures apply from August 31 to September 8 for men and from September 14 to 22 for women.