Lionel Messi's father has arrived in Barcelona for talks ahead of potential Man City move
Jorge Messi has arrived in Barcelona this morning ahead of crisis talks surrounding his son's future at Camp Nou.
The sporting world has been on tenterhooks for over a week now after Lionel Messi submitted a formal transfer request to the Blaugrana, attempting to end their 19-year collaboration.
An untold amount of reports have circulated around the world media since that fateful decision and it seems clear that team Messi will become embroiled in a legal dispute with Barcelona.
Messi set to leave Barca
There is a difference in opinion surrounding Messi's ability or lack thereof to leave Catalonia on a free transfer this summer, despite the fact his current deal actually expires in 2021.
As a result, while it seems clear that Messi wants a move to Manchester City, plenty of discussions need to be had between player and club before an escape route can truly be paved.
But fear not, because that's exactly what team Messi intend to do and it's been widely reported that the player's father, Jorge, will be hosting crisis talks with Barcelona today.
Jorge Messi arrives in Barcelona
It's a theory that has seemingly been confirmed, too, with Jorge having arrived in Barcelona by air this morning and there was a large huddle of Spanish press waiting to meet him.
Messi Snr, who also works as Messi's agent, was recorded leaving the terminal at El Prat Airport in the early hours of the morning and was quickly bombarded with questions from the media.
The airport exit marked Jorge's first public appearance since his son's remarkable decision and all he had to say to the journalists present was: "I don't know anything, guys."
Crisis talks with Barca
Either it's Jorge's way of saying that he didn't want to speak to the media or that he's literally entering these talks with Barcelona without a clear idea of how it will go down.
According to the Mirror, Messi Snr, who swiftly jumped into a taxi, will meet with Barcelona chiefs including widely-derided president Josep Maria Bartomeu later in the day.
ESPN are amongst the sources to claim that Bartomeu still intends to offer Messi an olive branch in the form of a two-year contract extension, but it remains unlikely that the player would change his mind.
Man City leading the pack
Besides, Manchester City's director of football Txiki Begiristain is also present in the Catalan capital and the Daily Record reported on Tuesday night that a deal with City had already been agreed.
So, unless Bartomeu and co. can amass the sales pitch of the century, you get the impression that Jorge has arrived in Barcelona to make it crystal clear that Lionel sees his future elsewhere.
Today could well be the day that Messi's exit from Barcelona is well and truly set in motion.
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