epa08625664 (FILE) – FC Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi reacts during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, in Barcelona, Spain, 18 December 2019, re-issued 25 August 2020. Messi has sent a certified letter to the club on 25 August communicating his intentions to leave the club. EPA/ENRIC FONTCUBERTA *** Local Caption *** 55718616
DStv and GOtv subscribers can look forward to the imminent return of La Liga action live on SuperSport.
The first round of the 2020-21 season scheduled to be played from 11-14
September 2020. SuperSport, the home of football is the only platform that provides English commentary from the La Liga league.
The 2020-21 La Liga season will open with a shortened round as clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla will be absent due to their participation in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League’s recent mini tournaments.
Despite Barcelona not being scheduled to play until much later in the month, they are the team dominating the headlines in La Liga over the possible departure of Lionel Messi.
The Argentine forward, after nearly two decades at the club, has had enough of Barca’s mismanagement and
ailing form, with the shocking 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich last month seemingly the last straw.
Messi has formally requested a transfer from Barcelona and believes a clause in his contract allowing him to leave on a free transfer has been activated, though the club and La Liga both say his €700 million release clause remains the only valid way to terminate his deal, which runs until
next June.
Messi has failed to appear for Barcelona’s pre-season coronavirus testing and training, and he looks set to stay away from the Camp Nou until a move is completed.
The favourites to sign him
are Premier League giants Manchester City – which would see a reunion between Messi and Pep
Guardiola – while Paris Saint-Germain are another contender.
Barcelona have a presidential election looming and one of the main candidates, Victor Font, stated that the only way the six-time Ballon d'Or winner might remain at Camp Nou is if current president
Josep Maria Bartomeu resigns. Font now feels too much water has gone under the bridge to avoid losing Messi.
Asked if it is too late for Messi to change his mind, Font said: "That's the way it seems.
This is the
best football club in the world and we will do everything to ensure that the association with Messi
stays."
When quizzed if he sees any way that Barca can convince him to perform an about-turn, he added:
"That's the hope, right? Until it's over there is always hope. And therefore, I really hope the
decision can be changed.
"It doesn't seem likely, though, and therefore if that's the case, the focus should be on making the
transition as smooth as possible. And the ties between Messi and Barcelona that go very deep,
remain there, so we can ensure somehow, the relationship continues in the future.”
He added: "Being the best player in the history of the sport carries a lot of weight. You see it with
[Diego] Maradona, with Pele, with Johan Cruyff, these people carry a lot of value to the
organisation they belong to. That's why we need to ensure that happens."
The world’s biggest-ever transfer, in terms of both fee and magnitude, may be just around the
corner and it seems La Liga could lose arguably its greatest ever player.
SuperSport remains committed to providing DStv and GOtv Viewers the best sporting experience
in the coming La Liga season, with best view of their favourite stars dominating La Liga pitches
across Spain.
For more details on upcoming match and fixtures, visit SuperSport. Reconnect now on the GOtv
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