Messi has NOT asked for Barca exit

Lionel Messi's future at Barcelona is uncertain beyond next summer with the club in crisis.

Barca are in turmoil as the board convened for an emergency meeting on Monday morning following the club's humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich.

Quique Setien is expected to be sacked, with Camp Nou legend Ronald Koeman the favourite to become the new head coach.

Along with Setien, sporting director Eric Abidal’s position is also under threat following a series of poor signings in recent years and the club's former left-back is expected to lose his job as part of the new plans.

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Another topic on the board's agenda will be the future of captain Messi, following reports on Sunday night that the Argentine has told the Catalan club he wants to leave the club this summer.

Standard Sport understands that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has not transmitted an intention to quit Camp Nou, but Barca sources say there are concerns over his contract situation as his current deal expires in 2021.

Bartomeu has always insisted that Messi, who turned 33 in June, will see out his career with the Blaugrana.

However, this latest report follows a claim in July that the Argentine had decided to move when his deal expires next summer.

Messi has previously said on a number of occasions that he and his family are happy in Barcelona.

However he has also stressed the need for a successful sporting project and this latest report maybe a tactic to apply pressure on the board and press for change ahead of what would be his final few years at Camp Nou.