The historic defeat of FC Barcelona against Bayern Munich in 2020 marked a significant turning point in Lionel Messi’s history with the club.
According to journalist Martí Perarnau in his book “Dieu sauve Pep,” Lionel Messi contemplated leaving FC Barcelona after this defeat. He allegedly sent a burofax to the club’s management demanding his departure and also discussed with Sergio Agüero the possibility of joining Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
After a meeting with Guardiola, Messi would have expressed his desire to train hard despite the difficulty and tactical complexity, but the deal did not materialize due to the €750 million release clause.