As the topic of Messi leaving Barca is still blazing, Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid says that Lionel Messi has done so much that he has earned the right to leave Barca.
The Real Madrid captain said that Messi has “earned the right to decide on his future.”
Speaking in a news conference ahead of Spain’s UEFA Nations League game with Germany on Thursday, Ramos said: “I don’t know if he’s doing it in the best way. But of course, for Spanish football, for Barcelona and us, we always like to win is the best. We would like him to stay here.”
“Leo makes the Spanish league better, he makes his team better and he makes the Clasico more attractive. We like to win with the best there and he’s one of the best in the world,” Ramos added. “There isn’t much to add, he’s won the respect to decide his future, him alone, without any speculation at all. Let’s see what happens.”
Messi’s legal team says that he has unilaterally ended his Barca contract last week. Since then, the 33-year old Argentine has not turned up for training with new coach Ronald Koeman.
The club says that the relevant clause expired in June, Messi’s contract remains valid. Now, the only way to change that is by paying his €700 million buyout clause.
Even Messi’s father has jumped in to end the deadlock between the footballer and the club. Jorge Messi, his father, and the agent had gone to Barcelona on Wednesday for talks with Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu aimed at ending the stalemate over his son’s attempt to quit the club.
