Lionel Messi reveals chances of him leaving Barcelona after Eric Abidal bust-up

Posted Saturday, February 22, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Lionel Messi reveals chances of him leaving Barcelona after Eric Abidal bust-up
Lionel Messi has scored 19 goals for Barcelona this season (Image: GETTY )

Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi has revealed he will not leave the club in the summer transfer window

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has vowed that he has no plans to leave the club despite speculation over his future after admitting he ‘felt attacked’ over a public row with the sporting director Eric Abidal. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner revisited the argument after former defender Abidal suggested that the first-team were responsible for the dismissal of Ernesto Valverde last month.

The Argentinean captain confirmed to Sky Sports on Thursday that he remains unshaken by recent events and spoke on his future as Manchester City and other clubs monitor his situation.

He said: “I’ve already said many times my plan is to stay and there will be never be a problem for me in that regard for as long as the club and the fans want me.

“Ive also often said I’d like to be happy and for all of us to be happy, from the club as a while to the fans being pleased with the team and there being a winning project in place, with the team in contention to win every trophy as we’ve always done here.

“My aim is to stay at this club.

"I want to win the Champions League again and i want to keep winning the league.

"That’s what I always aspire to achieve.”

Messi also admitted he “did not know what was going through Abidal’s head” when accusing unnamed players of not working hard enough for former manager Valverde, and also insisted neither he not the dressing room call the shots at Barcelona.

“I don’t know (why I’m accused of that),” he added.

“The same thing happened with the Argentina national team. Perhaps (it is) the fact that I’ve been in the same place for such a long time and because I’m very part of the furniture, both here and with the national team, explains it.”

The war of words has also been followed up by allegations that Barcelona hired a social media firm to criticise key figures at the club and protect club president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s reputation.

Quique Setlen has since taken over as boss and demands a more pressing style of play which has been adopted by previous coaches including Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

Barcelona currently sit second in La Liga, just a point behind Real Madrid as their El Clasico meeting on March 1 could decide the title race.

However, more importantly next up for Messi and co is a clash with 16th placed Eibar in the Spanish top-flight at 3pm tomorrow.