Koeman telling Messi his ‘privileges were over’ was the final straw for Barcelona captain, reports claim

The times, they are a'changing

Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club. His desire to leave is the result of a cumulation of factors, the board's mismanagement of the club over the past five years being the primary factor. But the player was pushed over the edge after meeting with new manager Ronald Koeman, according to a report from Argentine news outlet Diario Olé. It is thought that Koeman told Messi that his 'privileges' would no longer be indulged, and that he was going to be "inflexible," prioritising the needs of the collective after years of pandering to his demands. The manager's words are thought to have been the final straw for Messi, who has felt let down by the club during his peak years. Messi has a clause in his contract at Barcelona that allows him to leave the club for free if he chooses to, but the club are reportedly disputing this, claiming that the clause expired in June. But Messi's camp believe it was extended in line with the delayed finish to the 2019/20 season, according to Marca.