Barcelona: Messi to remain on holiday until he signs his new contract
The Argentinean will not join up with the Barcelona squad for training on Monday - nor is the club studying whether he would be able to train apart.
Leo Messi won't report for work at the Ciutat Esportiva tomorrow morning. During the past few days there has been much speculation about whether the Argentinean will be able to rejoin his team mates without having signed a new contract. One possibility would be if Messi took out private health insurance. But that is an option which the club discarded. Barça have said that Messi will not return until he has signed his new contract.
Barcelona are quietly optimistic that Leo will sign his new contract soon, although they freely admit that they have been having difficulties to fit him in as they attempt to slash the squad's wages bill - a process which has had both clubs directors and the fans.
Messi, still technically a free agent
It's important to remember that Messi has been without a club since 1 July - for a whole month. Fortunately both parties have agreed that it is in their interests to find a solution.
But Leo still has a while to wait until this period of uncertainty is finally over. At least he will be able to spend his time relaxing and continuing to enjoy his holidays in Ibiza with his family and Luis Suárez and his wife and kids.
The club hopes to have the Messi case closed by 13 August as the intention is to have the Argentinean registered and ready to start the new league campaign which for Barca, kicks off on 15 August against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou. The club also wants to have the respective situations of the team's three captains (Sergio Busquets, Piqué and Sergi Roberto) resolved as well as Jordi Alba's. Barcelona hope to have reduced the wages bill by 40% for the new season.