WELCOME TO ETC BLOG

Barcelona on Saturday, confirmed that Lionel Messi will remain their captain, ahead of the 2020/2021 season.  The 33-year-old demanded for a transfer away from the Camp Nou three weeks ago, but then performed a dramatic U-turn, when the club refused to allow him leave for free.Despite the chaotic period, He will keep the armband under new manager Ronald Koeman this season, with Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto as his deputies. Barcelona posted a picture of all three players on social media and wrote: “For the third consecutive season, the four wearers of the armband will be Leo Messi, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto, in that order. “Since the departure of Andrés Iniesta in 2018, the Argentine star has been in charge of leading the Barça team. “The number 10 faces his 17th season in the first team and the third as first captain.”

At least eight clubs are in position to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona, according to Diario Ole. They are: Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Messi sent shock waves around the world of football on Tuesday, when it emerged that he had  informed Barca to terminate his contract. The 33-year-old wants the LaLiga club to activate an exit clause, which allows him to leave the club at the end of the season. However, both parties have disagreed over when the season actually ended. Barca feel the clause could only be activated by the end of June, while Messi feels the campaign which was extended by the COVID-19 break, finished in August.