After he asked his father to hold off contract talks till the end of the season, now, Lionel Messi no longer wants to leave Barcelona.
Indeed, his father, Jorge Messi, told club president Joan Laporta that his son wishes to stay, despite links to PSG. They negotiated in a meeting on Thursday.
RTVE announced the outcome of the discussions that Jorge, Messi’s father as well as agent, and Laporta conduced. And, per the Spanish television station, Messi wishes to stay.
Messi has thus taken the ‘first step’ toward remaining at Barcelona next season.
Messi’s father, Jorge, serves as a confidante and representative for the player.
He was deeply involved in the fallout a year ago as well, when the player declared his desire to leave.
Former president Josep Maria Bartomeu rejected Messi’ burofax resignation then, and Messi remained at the club against his will.
According to earlier reports, Messi had made a list of demands that, if met, would compel him to stay.
He demanded major changes to the club’s unsuccessful recruiting policy, with a focus on building a new, young team.
He wished for a renewed emphasis on talent growth in order to reclaim the prominence that excelled under Pep Guardiola.
In talks with Laporta, he made those points clear. And after Messi’s father met with the president, he allegedly left feeling very hopeful about his son’s future.
