Barcelona salute Lionel Messi's decision to stay

Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona

Barcelona hailed Lionel Messi’s decision to remain at the club on Friday.

Messi said he had been forced to stay because president Josep Maria Bartomeu would not let him exercise a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave for free.

However, Barcelona highlighted Messi’s pledge to give his all for the team by posting a picture of the striker on Instagram in the club’s new kit, with the caption: “I’m going to give my best. My love for Barça will never change”.