Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong conceded the LaLiga giants are in turmoil as superstar captain Lionel Messi looks to leave Camp Nou.
Messi did not feature in Barca s first day of pre-season training under new head coach Ronald Koeman on Monday after the six-time Ballon d Or winner handed in a transfer request, with Manchester City reportedly the frontrunners for his signature.
As with Sunday s coronavirus testing for members of Koeman s first-team squad, Messi did not attend because he believes a clause in his contract allowing him to leave on a free transfer is now active, meaning he is no longer a Barcelona player.
It comes after Barca were dethroned by bitter rivals Real Madrid in LaLiga and humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2019-20.
Netherlands international De Jong, who endured a difficult first season in Spain, told NOS: Currently it s a mess at Barcelona, so many strange things happening. It s chaos.
I haven t talked to him [Messi] about this myself. Nor the club. So I honestly do not know how it is.
But if Messi really leaves, it will be a huge blow to the team and the club.
When I come back after these international matches, I will see what has happened at the club.
These moments, we shall never forget!
Thank you,
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Messi has called Barca home since 2001, emerging from the club s famed youth system in 2004.
Since making his debut 16 years ago, Messi has won a club-record 33 trophies – including 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League crowns.
Messi – linked to Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Inter – also holds the records for most goals scored for LaLiga giants Barca.
De Jong added to Fox Sports: I hope that Messi is still there when I get back, but that is not something that is up to me. He s still in the group chat.
I m not anyone to talk about it with him, I m sure he has many people around him doing that these days.
