Football: Messi has not told us he will miss training, says Barca sporting director

BARCELONA (AFP, REUTERS) - Lionel Messi has not informed Barcelona coaches he will not attend training on Wednesday (Aug 26), according to the club's newly-appointed sporting director, Ramon Planes.

Captain Lionel Messi announced on Tuesday that he wished to leave the Catalan side he has been with for 20 seasons, since he was 13 years old.

"Messi has not informed us that he was not going to show up to training," Planes said during the official unveiling of Portuguese striker Joao Trincao.

"But all exchanges will remain between the two parties (the club and the player) and out of respect we will not communicate on what is said because we are putting all our efforts in this dialogue."

Planes took over his post from Eric Abidal, who was sacked a day after coach Quique Setien was released following the humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich, which left Barca without a trophy for the first time since 2007.

Messi, Planes insisted, in the first official club reaction to the Argentinian's want-away demand, was "important news. But what we think, and we've said it many times, is that we see Messi as a Barca player".

"Today Trincao arrives and we hope he will triumph alongside Messi."

Planes added: "Barca has rebuilt itself several times in its history, and it has always come back more powerful. Our idea is to do it once again, around the best player in the world.

"Barca has rebuilt itself several times in its history, and it has always come back more powerful. Our idea is to do it once again, around the best player in the world.

"You have to have enormous respect for what Messi is and for his history.

"We're not thinking about any clause in his contract. Messi's marriage to Barca has brought a lot to both (the club and the player), a lot of joy to the supporters and, internally, we are working to convince Messi to find the best solution for Barca and for Messi."

Planes stressed that there was "not an argument between Messi and Barca - neither deserves it".

"We are working to make Barca a winner. There is no division within the club over Leo. Anyone who knows football wants him to stay here to win again. He's a winner."

After news spread about Messi's wish to leave, angry Barcelona fans gathered outside their stadium and demanded the resignation of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"We love you, Messi stay, Messi stay!" and "Bartomeu resign!" chanted several hundred fans outside Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium on Tuesday night.

The decision by the Argentine forward has thrown the club into turmoil less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich.

"It's a huge outrage. I never thought this would ever happen... you can take defeats in sports but I can't handle Messi leaving," said Oriol, 40.

"We will defend him until death. He is not the one to blame. The blame is on (Barcelona's) board."

Messi, who has been named world's best player of the year a record six times, has grown increasingly unhappy over the last 12 months on how the club is being run under Bartomeu.

He criticised club officials for forcing players to take a pay cut to cope with the financial hit of the coronavirus pandemic.

Albert, 28, another disgruntled Barca fan, told Reuters while wearing a face mask: "They have been doing things badly for a long time and this guy (Messi) has got tired of not having a project, of not keeping the philosophy we used to have... and he said enough is enough.

"The only situation available right now is for him (Bartomeu) to resign."

After Barca surrendered the Spanish La Liga title to Real Madrid in July, Messi slammed the team as "weak" and "vulnerable" during an uncharacteristically fiery post-match interview.

Barca are in the midst of overhauling their squad following the Champions League defeat, and some Spanish media have reported that new coach Ronald Koeman told Messi's close friend and strike partner, Luis Suarez, that he does not wish the Uruguayan to stay at the club.