Rivaldo - Messi could still sign a two-year deal with Barcelona

Messi sought to end his career-long association with FC Barcelona in the summer following a disastrous campaign, which saw the club go trophyless for the first time since 2007/08.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner handed in a transfer request and expected the board to honor a clause in his contract that would make it void. Therefore, he could leave Camp Nou as a free agent in that instance.

Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu, however, blocked his efforts to leave altogether. He argued the said clause expired on June 10, despite Messi and his representatives contesting that the prolonged season meant otherwise.

The Argentine then announced this month that he would instead honor the remaining season on his Barca contract, aware that nobody could pay his €700m release clause and reluctant to take legal action against the club.

This extended lifeline has given Barcelona until January at the earliest to convince Messi to sign an extension. If not, he’ll be free to begin talks with non-Spanish clubs regarding a transfer for the summer of 2021.

Not helping matters was the club board’s decision to offload his good friend Luis Suarez, in addition to Arturo Vidal. However, Rivaldo hasn’t lost hope of a solution in Catalonia just yet.

“After Suarez and Arturo Vidal’s departure from Barca, it’s understandable that the press is convinced Lionel Messi will leave at the end of the season. But I still think that a lot could happen to prevent his exit,” the ex-Barca star told Betfair.

“He’ll make new friends in the locker room and we cannot forget that there will be election in 2021 that could change the current situation.

“We don’t know how things have evolved between Messi and the current president, so let’s wait and hope that he changes his mind and ends up extending his contract for two more seasons.”