Lionel Messi to hold Barcelona press conference on Sunday to explain exit

Posted Sunday, August 08, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Lionel Messi is set to explain his Barcelona exit on Sunday, and the 34-year-old has announced a press conference ahead of Barcelona's annual Joan Gamper Trophy

Lionel Messi is set to break his silence over his departure from Barcelona on Sunday.

The 34-year-old ended his 21-year-long stay in Catalonia on Thursday when Barcelona announced they were unable to extend his contract due to financial restrictions.

And Messi has scheduled a press conference for 11am Sunday morning in Barcelona.

The Argentine is expected to talk about the reasoning for his departure as well as his future plans post-Barca.

PSG are reportedly in pole position for securing the services of Messi for the upcoming campaign, and the 34-year-old was spotted on holiday with numbers of the Parisian squad.

Lionel Messi to hold Barcelona press conference on Sunday to explain exit
Messi is set to explain why he left Barcelona

Curiously, Messi has scheduled the press conference a couple of hours ahead of the Joan Gamper Trophy.

The Joan Gamper Trophy is Barcelona's annual curtain-raiser ahead of the new campaign and, after beating Elche and Arsenal in recent years, Juventus have been selected as the opponents for 2012.

Messi is expected to say goodbye to the Barcelona fans ahead of the showpiece.

Barcelona usually use the fixture to present their squad for the upcoming season to the fans, and they are expected to do the same on Sunday.

Lionel Messi to hold Barcelona press conference on Sunday to explain exit
Messi shirts are still available in the Barcelona club shop

Barcelona president Joan Laporte stated, on Friday, that keeping Messi at the club could put the club at risk for the next 50 years.

"I can't make a decision that will affect the club for 50 years," Laporta said.

"The club is over 100 years old and it's above everyone and everything, even above the best player of the world. We will always thank him for everything he's done for us.

"In order to have fair play, we need to do this or make an effort which would put the club at risk. We couldn't keep going with this and we needed to make a decision, which we have."