Messi returns to Barcelona training for 1st time since failed exit

Lionel Messi returned to Barcelona training on Monday for the first time since the star failed to force a departure from the club.

Messi will participate in individual training sessions as per COVID-19 protocol before rejoining first-team activities on an undetermined date, according to ESPN UK's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

The 33-year-old was photographed arriving at the club's Joan Gamper training facility at the Ciutat Esportiva in Sant Joan Despi on Monday.

Messi reversed course on his desire to leave, saying he wanted to avoid entering a legal battle with the club. His representatives maintained that a special clause in his terms that would allow him to leave was still active, while Barcelona contended it expired at the end of June.

The Argentine talisman said club president Josep Maria Bartomeu broke a promise that would have permitted Messi to terminate his current contract with the Catalan outfit.

"I wanted to go because I thought about living my last years of football happily. Lately, I have not found happiness within the club," Messi said in an interview with Goal last week.

It's expected Messi will have a coronavirus test upon his return to Barcelona's facilities after skipping last Sunday's test following advice from his legal team.

Messi could participate in Barcelona's preseason tune-up versus Gimnastic Tarragona on Saturday. It would be his first involvement since the 8-2 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich.