Report: Messi tells Barcelona he'll skip testing, preseason training

Lionel Messi has formally notified Barcelona he will skip Sunday's coronavirus tests and won't report for preseason training the following day, sources told ESPN's Moises Llorens and Alex Kirkland.

The wantaway star's legal team claims he has already unilaterally ended his association with Barcelona after exercising a termination clause written into his contract. However, the Catalonian club contests the clause expired on June 10 and the deadline wasn't moved back due to the delayed conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

Messi's representatives believe their client attending training sessions ahead of the 2020-21 campaign would weaken the argument that he is no longer on the club's books and therefore available on a free transfer. If Barcelona win the dispute by proving that he failed to trigger his clause on time, they can reject any offer below his €700-million release clause.

The 33-year-old's Barcelona contract expires in June 2021.

Manchester City are viewed as the front-runners for Messi's signature. The Premier League outfit is managed by Messi's former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola and may offer him a three-year deal followed by an option to join their sister club in Major League Soccer, New York City FC.

Paris Saint-Germain are also among the main candidates to sign Messi, with Neymar reportedly calling his former teammate to try to pitch a move to the French capital in the past few days.

Messi is apparently desperate to leave Barcelona on amicable terms. On Friday, he and his lawyers requested a meeting with the club brass to discuss his Camp Nou departure, ESPN understands.