BARCELONA (Reuters) - Unhappy Lionel Messi missed Barcelona's first training session of the new season on Monday, days after his shock announcement that he wants to leave the only club he has played for professionally. Reuters television footage showed players arriving for the session which began at 1730 local time (1530 GMT) and Messi did not appear. Supporters who waited outside the training ground on Monday were split over Messi's decision. "Messi lives in my heart -- it's a pity that he leaves, I wanted him to leave through the front door of the club.”Spaniard Ivan Antolin Beltran remembered that Barca had helped Messi through the earlier stages of his career. "After all that Barca has given to Messi throughout his career, which started here as a child... they paid him for all his medicines and everything ...

Source: The Star August 31, 2020 17:37 UTC