Sport Toni Freixa: Lionel Messi has shown lack of respect for Barcelona

A candidate in the Barcelona presidential race has claimed Lionel Messi lacks respect for the LaLiga giants after his shock transfer request on Tuesday.

Toni Freixa, a former Barcelona director, believes that losing Messi would not be the end of the world due to the way the Barcelona captain has treated the club in this time of crisis

Messi shocked the world of football by informing the Catalans via fax of his desire to move on after a trophyless season at the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi cuts his holiday short to meet with Ronald Koeman TODAY

Lionel Messi has dramatically cut short his holiday in order to hold urgent talks with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman about his plans to rebuild the crisis-stricken club. Messi's future at the Nou Camp is far from certain after Barcelona were ruthlessly thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week, prompting the departure of Koeman's predecessor Quique Setien and sporting director Eric Abidal.And according to Mundo Deportivo, Messi is returning from his family holiday in the La Cerdanya area of the Pyrenees to hear Koeman's plans for himself.

Lionel Messi wants out of Barcelona . The Argentinian superstar, who has spent nearly two decades living and playing in Barcelona , informed the If Messi can leave for free, though, he will have no shortage of suitors. However, only a handful of clubs could realistically afford to pay his wages even

Soccer icon Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that he intends to leave the club via an exit clause in his contract, according to reports out of Argentina and from Messi , who at 33 has been named world player of the year a record six times, has been with Barcelona for his entire professional career after

© Provided by Daily Mail A Barcelona presidency candidate says Lionel Messi (above) lacks respect for the LaLiga club

© Provided by Daily Mail Toni Freixa (above), an ex-Barcelona director, is disappointed in Messi's shock transfer request

The Barcelona's captain's bombshell has put intense pressure on current president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who is facing protests from supporters while a vote of no confidence is being lined up against him.

But Freixa, who is a candidate to replace Bartomeu, says the way Messi has gone about his business means he could well be sold.

He told Radio Marca: 'I am not overly concerned about Messi leaving because everything has an end.

© Provided by Daily Mail Freixa says he would not be concerned if Barcelona and football legend Messi left the club

© Provided by Daily Mail Interest in the six-time Ballon D'Or winner will be high, with Manchester City and PSG keen

'What is important is that he did it in such an unfortunate way and without respecting the club.'

Barcelona 'line up swoop for Juventus' Dybala to replace Messi'

Barcelona are preparing for life without talisman Lionel Messi and have identified Juventus forward Paulo Dybala as their heir to his throne. That's according to reports in Italy on Sunday.That's according to reports in Italy, which claim that the Spanish giants are keen for Juventus forward Dybala to replace his Argentine compatriot should Messi leave them this summer.

Lionel Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona , the club he joined as a teenager.Credit Pool photo by Manu Fernandez. Lionel Messi , arguably the greatest player in soccer history, has informed Barcelona that he intends to leave the club with immediate effect, and to do so by activating

Football superstar Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club after nearly two decades with the Spanish team. The club confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Argentine sent a document expressing his wish to leave.

Messi intends to activate a clause in his contract which would allow him to move to another club for free. However, Barcelona believe that the expiration date for that option expired in June, meaning the Argentinian footballer or his potential new club needs to stump up his £630million release clause.

This could mean one of the biggest and stories in the history of football could end in a legal dispute between one of the greatest players of all-time and the club he has always represented.

© Provided by Daily Mail Pressure is growing on Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu to step down from his role

Freixa says that Messi must pay out his release clause and that the decision on this is final.

The presidential candidate added: 'I am surprised and disappointed as a Barcelona man. I am disappointed by what Messi has done.

'The contracts are to be fulfilled and what Messi has to do is come with €700m and leave.'

Koeman told Messi 'your privileges in the squad are OVER'

Lionel Messi decided to hand in a transfer request after he was told 'your privileges in the squad are over' by new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman but it has not seen president Josep Bartomeu resign.The 33-year-old had been considering his future at the Nou Camp after a trophyless season ended with a humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which prompted the sacking of coach Quique Setién   

with Barcelona , but Lionel Messi is getting serious love from his longtime teammates on Tuesday after the While Messi is prepped to leave the only pro club he's ever known, his teammates are taking the news " Respect and admiration, Leo," Carles Puyol said on Twitter. "All my support, friend."

Lionel Messi has told FC Barcelona he wants to leave the club, a report claims. According to TyC Sports in his homeland of Argentina on Tuesday afternoon, the captain has communicated his wishes via fax. He would like to utilize the clause in his contract that allows him to terminate after the end of

© Provided by Daily Mail Messi will either walk away on a free transfer or pay his £630million release clause this year

Interest in Messi would be huge if Barcelona cannot convince the Argentinian forward to stay.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain appear to be the early front-runners for the superstar who has scored 634 career goals in 731 matches.

In moving to City, the six-time Ballon D'Or winner would face a reunion with Pep Guardiola - the manager Messi enjoyed great success with earlier in his career.

Video: THOMAS TUCHEL SAYS LIONEL MESSI WOULD BE "VERY WELCOME" TO JOIN PSG (Mirror)