Lionel Messi's battle to leave Barcelona took a fresh twist on Sunday morning as the Camp Nou star failed to attend a pre-season medical with the club.
Messi was a no-show as the club's players and staff arrived at the club's training ground - the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi - to undergo PCR testing for coronavirus.
Reuters footage showed players arriving for coronavirus tests on Sunday morning and Messi did not appear, following on from reports on Saturday suggesting he would be absent as he attempts to push for an exit from the club.
He had reportedly been due at Barcelona's training ground at 10.15am local time (9:15am BST).
Players had been given staggered appointments throughout the morning until midday, with Luis Suarez attending despite his future being uncertain.
Messi's absence now means he will be unable to take part in Ronald Koeman's first training session as new head coach on Monday given he will not have medical clearance.
Lionel Messi Barcelona Transfer Request: Newspaper Pages
The six-times world player of the year informed his lifelong club on Tuesday he wished to leave immediately, plunging Barca into new turmoil less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich.
Representatives of the 33-year-old sent a certified fax to the Barca board last Tuesday, outlining Messi's intention to walk away from the Camp Nou for nothing this summer.
Standard Sport understands that clause expired in June, with Messi obliged to tell the club in May if he had wanted to leave.
However, with the season extended due to Covid-19, the forward’s interpretation is that the clause would be applicable until the end of this month.
Barcelona are confident the clause has expired and insist that their star player can only leave if another club pays his release clause, which stands at €700 million (£629m). A legal battle could now follow between the club and player.
Messi has expressed his frustrations on a number of occasions in recent months and, following the appoint of new manager Ronald Koeman, the situation has boiled over.
In Pictures | Barcelona fans protest after Messi transfer request
Additional reporting by Reuters.
