(1:01). However, the Argentine star was introduced at the break with the scores level after a frustrating first half in which Barcelona failed to convert a host of chances. He has them on track for the same result this season in the wake of a stunning, late-game goal in a 1-0 victory over the Atletico Madrid. Barca were 3-0 up in the first leg of their semifinal against Liverpool. He might not even make it until then if a vote of no confidence, launched on the back of Messi's burofax, goes against him in the coming weeks. Maybe next year. SETIEN HAD A BRIEF AND TROUBLED SPELL IN CHARGE. • Di Maria handed 4-game ban for brawl When Barca dropped their first points in a frustrating goalless draw with Sevilla, sources told ESPN that there was a tense dressing room showdown between captain and coach as stunned teammates looked on. Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Levante.

Here’s why. Twelve months later, Messi was refusing to train, insisting that his 20-year relationship with Barca was over, and trying to force a move to Manchester City.

Setien was dismissed. Dembele miskicked, Alisson made the easy save and Messi fell theatrically to the floor, face down in the turf.

Their title challenge ended with a 2-1 home defeat to Osasuna on July 16. Valverde can now focus on the remaining cup competitions as he looks to guide his team to three major honors this season. What about financial fair play? (CNN)Barcelona successfully defended its Spanish La Liga crown after beating Levante 1-0 Saturday, courtesy of the magical Lionel Messi. Puoi scegliere tra il rendimento dell'intera carriera e quello di una particolare stagione. That is slowly happening, but it's coming at the expense of his closest friends at the club: Vidal has joined Inter Milan and Suarez is headed to Atletico Madrid. He was determined to leave, but not if the process descended into lengthy litigation. Things had "all gone wrong" since January, he said, in a blatant criticism of his new coach. "Put aside everything else you've been working on and focus on this," Bartomeu told the club's lawyers.

Hurt, 560037, USA. Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets got older. Embarrassed by Liverpool and Roma in recent years, the 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich at the quarterfinal stage of the competition last season, in August, was the tipping point. 10 has channelled his anger on the pitch before with positive results for the team; he might do so again. Editor: Aaron Weaver – aaron.weaver@ccn.comFinancial Editor: Sam Bourgi – sam.bourgi@ccn.comDirector and Founder: Jonas Borchgrevink -jonas.borchgrevink@ccn.comHR and Recruiting: Pamela Meropiali – pamela.meropiali@ccn.comSales Manager: Pankaj Upadhyay – pankaj@ccn.com. Messi and Ronaldo missing from 2019/2020 Uefa awards For the first time in a decade, the two players are not shortlisted for any of the Uefa awards.

In an interview with Goal's Ruben Uria, Messi announced his decision to stay. • Steffen wants more anti-racism action Barcelona's members strike back against president Bartomeu: What's next for the club? "Bartomeu doesn't want to be the president who agrees to the sale of Messi," a source told ESPN, even as another source said, "it's the best thing he could have done.".

"We've been a very erratic, weak, low-intensity team. Once their two-year ban from European competitions was lifted on July 13, they knew they would be the front-runners to sign him if he left Barca. He was replaced by Quique Setien, a man with no experience managing a group of players at this level. Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines.

"The president told me the only way to leave was to pay the €700m clause, which is impossible, and that the alternative was going to court," Messi said. Known for being a reluctant public figure, Messi speaks only when he has something to say -- and at 33, he has been more vocal than ever. La sua prima partita è arrivata alla 5a giornata, nel 2-0 contro il Granada, ma per trovare la prima rete stagionale in campionato Leo ha dovuto attendere l'8° turno, nel 4-0 contro il Siviglia. • Italy in shock as referee, partner killed

A first meeting between Messi and Koeman -- one that saw Messi interrupt his holiday with Suarez and Jordi Alba in the Pyrenees to return to Barcelona on Aug. 20 -- did not go well. In the end, he won't be the president who oversees Messi's departure; after all, the club's presidential elections will happen on March 20 or 21 next year, before Messi's contract expires. • Arsenal keen on Morgan test - Montemurro 2020-09-25 22:24.

Others question whether the prospect of another year of an unhappy Messi is best for Barca. Messi expressed his doubts and remained determined to leave the club. Among them, they brought in a mishmash of players recruited with different ideas in mind. "Messi and Pep spoke for hours," a source told ESPN. He admitted as much in the interview that brought a temporary end to the crisis this summer: "I've been telling [president Josep Maria Bartomeu] that I wanted to leave all year." Updated 2117 GMT (0517 HKT) April 27, 2019. Bartomeu will be gone soon and a new president is to be elected in March. Lionel Messi’s case as the greatest football player ever was further burnished on Monday when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or at the France Football awards ceremony in Paris. Could they afford Messi's salary? "Messi has so much power at the club, both on a financial and sporting level," one source said.

Scopri le migliori foto stock e immagini editoriali di attualità di Messi 2019 su Getty Images.

Gerelyn Terzo edited this article for CCN.com. The mechanism by which they thought they could pull off a deal had existed for years.

Messi has since said he didn't inform the club before then because they were still involved in La Liga and the Champions League; one source, though, says the fact City were banned from European football before winning an appeal also complicated his route out of Camp Nou.

"He didn't choose the best communications strategy," one source told ESPN.

Regional Offices: 440 Moy Ave, N9A 2N4, Windsor, Canada. Messi knew that his options for leaving Barcelona were limited.