Frenkie de Jong has revealed that Lionel Messi remains in Barcelona players' WhatsApp group chat despite recently asking to leave the club.
Messi recently revealed his intention to leave Barcelona, with the likes of Inter, Paris Saint-Germain and, most prominently, Manchester City linked to the Argentinian star.
In the week since Messi's announcement shook the football landscape, he has done little to walk back that initial request as he reportedly continues to insist that his time at Barca is over.
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The club, meanwhile, have been determined to hold onto their star while La Liga backed Barca by stating that Messi can only leave if his €700 million (£624m/$823m) release clause is met or if another club negotiates a lower transfer fee with the Camp Nou outfit.