Lionel Messi Returns To Training After Deciding To Stay At Barcelona

Lionel Messi has returned to Barcelona training for the first time since his intense transfer saga.

Messi, 33, asked to leave the club after handing in a transfer request last month.

But the six-time Ballon d'Or winner made a U-turn on his Barcelona future as he intends to see out his current contract which expires in June 2021.

And the superstar forward has been put through his paces by the coaching staff as he prepares for the new season.

He underwent a series of training drills at Barcelona's training complex on Monday.

Messi will have to train individually for a few days due to the strict COVID-19 protocols as he did not undergo last week's round of testing.

He also missed the first week of training after trying to force his exit from the club this summer.

Messi broke his silence last week after mounting transfer speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City.

"I told the club, including the president, that I wanted to go. I've been telling him that all year," he told Goal. "I believed it was time to step aside.

"I believed that the club needed more young players, new players and I thought my time in Barcelona was over.

"I felt very sorry because I always said that I wanted to finish my career here.

"It was a very difficult year, I suffered a lot in training, in games and in the dressing room.

"Everything became very difficult for me and there came a time when I considered looking for new ambitions."

He added: "It did not come because of the Champions League result against Bayern, no - I had been thinking about the decision for a long time.

"I told the president and, well, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not keep his word."