Lionel Messi’s future: Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal the only Barcelona stars pushing for his stay

Lionel Messi‘s team-mates Luis Suarez and Arturo Vidal are the only Barcelona players pushing for the superstar to stay at the club, according to reports.

The 33-year-old remains embroiled in a bitter stand-off with the LaLiga giants after he expressed his desire to leave this summer, and it has been claimed the club have even fined their talisman for failing to report to training on Monday and Tuesday. 

But despite the importance of Messi to Barcelona’s hopes of recovering from their Champions League humiliation, Sky Sports believe there has been a ‘deafening silence’ from his team-mates over the situation.

Just a handful of Lionel Messi’s team-mates are pushing for the superstar to stay at Barcelona

Luis Suarez remains a close friend of Messi and has tried to keep the talisman at the Nou Camp

His public attempts to force through a move away have failed to garner him vocal support from other stars at the club.

It has been noted that the two exceptions, Suarez and Vidal, have found themselves in a similar position of uncertainty and may also leave over the coming weeks. 

Those close to Messi, including Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique, have not commented yet. 

Arturo Vidal is reportedly the only other player to have not kept silent over Messi’s dilemma

Messi shocked the sporting world last week after handing in his transfer request, citing a clause in his contract which he believes may allow him to leave for free. Both the club and the league have refuted this, however. 

The 10-time LaLiga winner remains adamant that he wants to leave, and his father and representative Jorge is expected to meet with Barcelona chiefs on Wednesday to hold showdown talks. 

There is no clear exit route for the star, with LaLiga stating that Messi’s contract runs until June 2021 and any club wanting to free him must stump up his hefty £630million release clause.  

The 33-year-old has shocked the football world after telling Barcelona that he wants to leave

Manchester City are actively monitoring the situation and are keen to bring Messi to the Premier League if possible. 

Cadena Ser, a Spanish radio station, have reported that the club will offer their target an initial two-year contract – and believe that director of football Txiki Begiristain is already in Spain to negotiate a deal.

Messi has played 731 games for Barcelona, scoring 634 goals in all competitions.