xtratime Logo

XtraTime Web Desk: Lionel Messi is still contemplating leaving Barcelona even after meeting new club manager Ronald Koeman. According to reports in Spanish media, the Argentine playmaker is still undecided on staying at his old club. Messi, who joined Barca aged 13, is regarded as a living legend in the Catalan club.

According to Marca, Spain’s biggest selling daily, the Argentine told Koeman that he was more likely to leave the club than to stay. Another leading daily AS declared on its cover Messi sees himself leaving.

Barcelona-based daily Mundo Deportivo said Messi does not see his future clearly, but stressed that the captain has little hope of leaving the club immediately due to his 700-million-euro ($827.05 million) release clause.

The 33 year old Argentine player is 37 games away from matching Xavi Hernandez as the clubs all-time appearance maker. But it looks like he has made up his mind to not continue in the final year of his contract with the Spanish club. Doubts about his future have grown since last weeks historic 8-2 thrashing to Bayern Munich to exit the Champions League, which Barca have failed to win since 2015.

Sport, also based in Barcelona, talked of a first summit meeting between the captain and coach, adding that Messi interrupted his holidays in order to meet with Koeman.

The Dutch coach said in his presentation on Wednesday that he wanted Messi to stay, although he did not show as much reverence to the player as some of his predecessors.

Koeman said he "did not know if he needed to convince Messi to stay" although he did call the Argentine the best player in the world and said he would be happy if he chose to remain at Barca.