Messi says he will stay at Barcelona after all

MADRID, SPAIN – MARCH 1: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona disappointed during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 1, 2020 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

(Reuters) – Lionel Messi ended intense speculation about his future today by saying he will remain with Barcelona for another year.

The Argentine six-times world player of the year had told the club last month that he wanted to leave, insisting a clause in his contract allowed him to do so on a free transfer.

Barcelona, backed by La Liga, have insisted that a 700 million euros ($824 million) release clause would have to be paid.

“I wasn’t happy and I wanted to leave. I have not been allowed this in any way and I will stay at the club so as not to get into a legal dispute. The management of the club led by Bartomeu is a disaster,” Messi told website Goal.com.