Lionel Messi refuses to report for Barcelona testing ahead of pre-season return

Lionel Messi will not be present for the Barcelona squad’s coronavirus testing on Sunday or the start of pre-season training on Monday as the six-time Ballon d’Or winner looks to force through a move away from the club.

The Catalan giants were left stunned earlier in the week when Messi sent a burofax stating his intentions to leave the club immediately.

He believes there is a clause in his contract which allows him to depart for free, although Barcelona claim it expired in June.

Tensions between both parties appear to be running high, and a number of sources have now claimed Messi told the club on Saturday that he would not attend any testing or training sessions due to the fact it could have a legal impact on his claim that he has effectively ended his contractual relationship with Barcelona.

Things could get extremely complicated as Messi attempts to move on, and legal proceedings could be pursued in order to ascertain the exact terms of his contract.

Manchester City are the current favourites to sign the player, with the mouthwatering potential prospect of Pep Guardiola linking up with his former prodigee.

Barcelona are currently insistent, however, that any side who want to prise Messi away will have to pay his release clause of €700m, which would surely prove to be too steep for even City.

Messi has other huge offers from Paris St Germain and Inter Milan, while Juventus have also entered the bidding at the 11th hour.

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But it is thought the lure of Guardiola means he favours a move to City, and it remains to be seen if a deal can be sorted out ahead of the upcoming season.

New Barca coach Ronald Koeman is already planning for life without Messi, but his first training sessions with the team are likely to be overshadowed by the absence of their talismanic figure.