Lionel Messi news: Barcelona star to break silence, explain exit

Lionel Messi is slated to talk to reporters for the first time since rumors of his decision to leave Barcelona were made known on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi is slated to talk to reporters for the first time since rumors of his decision to leave Barcelona were made known on Tuesday, according to Goal. The megastar reportedly sent a burofax to the Barcelona directive, asking to exercise the opt-out clause that would allow him to leave on a free transfer.

The club rebutted that request, noting the July 10 deadline he needed to meet to exercise it. In the eyes of Barcelona, teams wanting Lionel Messi will need to pay every cent of the €700 million transfer fee it would take to get him.

While there is no date set for Lionel Messi's awaited revelation, he is expected to give his side of the story in the many events that led to his decision to leave the club after 20 years.

It's been a turbulent 2019-20 season for Barcelona, as the club got to a slow and unconvincing start to the season, which resulted in the dismissal of manager Ernesto Valverde, something the Argentine star tried to avoid by pleading to the directive.

The Catalans soon landed on Quique Setien, a manager that proved to be a misfit in the club from the time he set foot at Camp Nou grounds. Messi also fired shots at Eric Abidal, the former Barcelona defender that was the sporting director of the club before his firing earlier this month.

Lionel Messi questioned whether Abidal and company had done everything possible to reunite him with former running mate Neymar.

Barcelona went trophyless in 2019-20, losing their shot at the Copa Del Rey to Athletic Bilbao after a 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinal stage. The Blaugranes had all the makings to run away with the La Liga title, but dropped the ball after the restart, conceding the local award to bitter rival Real Madrid after some disappointing results.

Yet it was an 8-2 beating at the feet of Bayern Munich that was the straw that broke the camel's back, as a disappointed Lionel Messi did not talk to reporters after that embarrassing UEFA Champions League quarterfinal exit.

This expected press conference should clear the air for many still hoping to know what exactly was the breaking point for the homegrown star, as Lionel Messi finally addresses the Blaugrana one last time.