Lionel Messi insists he wants to leave Barça on good terms

24 hours after Lionel Messi offered to sit down with Barça to negotiate his exit, he still hasn't had a response from the club. Aside from Josep Maria Bartomeu claiming he won't sell Messi. The Argentinian star's lawyers still believe the 'exit clause' is valid and didn't expire on the 10th of June. However, Messi doesn't want to leave through the back door after 20 years at Barça and is hopeful of reaching an agreement with the board.

Messi will not change his mind though. This is a decision he's been considering for months and he informed the club on the 25th August, via burofax, that he wanted to leave. The heavy defeat to Bayern Munich followed by the club's decision to offload his close friends accelerated his decision. Leo feels now is the right time to try a new challenge.

Messi doesn't want a public fallout

However, Messi's decision to leave goes directly against Bartomeu's desire not to be the president who sold the club's greatest ever player. That's why he's offered to resign if Leo will reconsider and stay. Messi won't change his mind though and instead wants to leave Barça on good terms. Leo doesn't want a public battle or to take the club to court.

This isn't about money or to show what other clubs are offering. Messi only wants to sign off his 20+ year career with Barcelona on the best of terms. A 'no aggression' pact will allow Leo to continue his career at another club whilst, at the same time, being allowed to leave in a way which is fitting of the greatest ever player. 

Barça have so far insisted that the 'exit clause' has expired and have no intention of negotiating a transfer fee with any interested side. Now it remains to be seen what Messi does in the next few days. He's expected to pass PCR tests on Sunday and begin preseason training under Koeman on Monday.