Lionel Messi set to withdraw from training ahead of pre-season campaign- Lionel Messi is set to snub Barcelona first training session under new manager Ronald Koeman - The 33-year-old has been at logger-heads with his boyhood club since asking to leave the Camp Nou - Messi wants to leave the club for free while Barcelona are adamant about activating his €700million release clause PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! Lionel Messi will reportedly boycott Barcelona's first training session on Sunday, August 30, as he looks to force a move to Premier League Manchester City. La Blaugrana stars are to report to the club's training ground Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for coronavirus tests and have their first session with new boss Ronald Koeman. But according to Spanish news radio outlet RAC1, Messi has insisted that he will not be available for the first meeting between players ahead of the coming season. The move comes 24 hours after Messi's lawyers wanted to have discussions with Barcelona and were not givien listening ears. And now that Messi's potential peaceful departure is not likely to happen, the 33-year-old could go offensive against his life long employers. Despite the dispute both player and club, it is understood Messi have reiterated his desire to negotiate his departure from the club with an amicable settlement. Reports also claim Messi believes that starting training with the rest of the squad would contradict his message sent to Barca about his intentions to leave the club. Barcelona have insisted that Messi remians under contract would need to activate his €700million release clause instead of leaving as a freeagent. But news oulet Cadena Ser reported that the cluase is no longer applicable to Messi’s contract and he could leave for free. The case might be heading to the court of law to settle the dispute between both parties regarding the release clause of Messi's ccontract which he believes he should leave for free. Messi could be fined for ignoring training for pre-season which would further damage his relationship between club and player. PAY ATTENTION: Become a member of the leading sports Facebook group 'Naija Football Fan Zone' Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Lionel Messi let the cat out of the bag about leaving Barcelona this week but club officials claim they saw it coming since July. The club captain made his intentions official with a burofax message that shocked the world of football. And Barca chiefs have revealed that they knew their star player would leave the Camp Nou after the Argentine told them informally about his desires. How we mistakenly celebrated Yakubu’s miss at 2010 World Cup – Brown Ideye | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Lionel Messi is set to snub Barcelona first training session under new manager Ronald Koeman - The 33-year-old has been at logger-heads with his boyhood club since asking to leave the Camp Nou - Messi wants to leave the club for free while Barcelona are adamant about activating his €700million release clause PAY ATTENTION: PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng How we mistakenly celebrated Yakubu’s miss at 2010 World Cup – Brown Ideye