Messi not staying with Barcelona but for the President: former vice-president Mestre

Jordi Mestre believes that Messi is angry with the president and many journalists.

The Argentine stays at Barca against his will, the former vice-president reckons.

Selling Leo would have brought the club a lot of money but Bartomeu refused.

"I listened to Leo Messi's interview and he stays against his will. Not with Barca, but with Josep Maria Bartomeu. There's a divorce.

"He's angry with the president and many journalists, but he will return to be the same as ever," former vice-president Jordi Mestre has told Catalunya Radio.

"If Bartomeu had wanted Messi to go, he would have got a lot of money for the club, but from the first moment, he wanted him to stay.

Now it's time to calm the waters, let the situation get back under control. I'm sure he'll stay as captain."

As a reminder, the 33-year-old wanted to leave the club and even skipped the first week of training. However, he has, in the end, announced that he will continue at Camp Nou as the president refused to let him go.