Messi skips required coronavirus testing with Barcelona

In ar sign that Lionel Messi’s time with Barcelona is coming to an end, player did t report for required coronavirus testing scheduled for whole squad on Sunday.

Barcelona said Messi was only player who did t undergo tests at club’s training center. team is set to resume training on Monday ahead of upcoming start of season.

club also reiterated its stance t to negotiate Messi's early release, saying president Josep Bartomeu will only sit down with player if it is to extend his contract beyond next season.

Messi last week expressed his desire to leave club, but Barcelona wants him to play out contract that ends in June 2021. club also said it is t negotiating a possible transfer with any or team.

Messi anunced his decision to leave on Tuesday by sending club a burofax, a certified document similar to a telegram. He invoked a contract clause that allowed him to leave at end of season for free, but club claims that clause had already expired. A legal battle is expected to unfold as Messi will contend that season was extended beyond date clause expired because of coronavirus pandemic.

Argentina great reportedly said he wanted to negotiate with club, but Barcelona said Saturday it was t willing to facilitate his exit. club said it would like for Messi to finish his career with Catalan club.

re were rumors earlier in week that Messi would show up for Sunday's tests to avoid breaking team rules while negotiating his departure, but his people reportedly told club on Saturday of his intentions t to attend testing.

Barcelona will resume training with incoming coach Ronald Koeman in charge after Quique Setién was fired following team’s 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in quarterfinals of Champions League on Aug. 14. defeat, one of worst in Messi’s career and in club’s history, prompted Barcelona to anunce “profound” changes to first-team and a “wide-ranging” restructuring of club.

Koeman reportedly told Luis Suárez, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal and Samuel Umtiti that y are t in his plans for future, but all of m showed up for required tests on Sunday.

Suárez has been a longtime teammate and friend of Messi, and decision to get rid of Uruguayan striker was believed to have upset Messi and played a part in his decision to leave.

33-year-old Messi had been outspoken about club's poor decisions this season, its first without a trophy since 2007-08.

(Im Credit: AP)