Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations Prophet T.B. Joshua has urged Barcelona forward Lionel Messi not to strain his relationship with the club in his attempt to leave.
The cleric stated this in a Twitter post on Wednesday, moments after Messi’s father and agent Jorge arrived Spain for crunch talks with Barcelona.
“’It is not good advice for Lionel Messi to leave Barcelona bitter and offended. It is impossible to establish a healthy relationship with a person who left a previous relationship bitter and offended,” Joshua wrote.
“This is my candid advice to Messi. History is our boss.’”
Messi informed the club where he has been for nearly two decades of his intention to leave last month.
The announcement capped Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, one of the worst defeats in the player’s career and in the club’s history.
Messi, 33, referenced a clause allowing him to leave for free at the end of the season; but the club said the deadline for triggering that clause expired in June.
La Liga has also stood behind the club, saying the release clause of 700 million euros must be paid if Messi is to leave.
