Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he will not be attending the club's first day of training, according to various media reports in Spain on Saturday.
Players are scheduled to report to the club’s training ground for PCR coronavirus tests on Sunday.
But Catalan radio RAC1 was one of several media reporting that Messi had informed the club he would not be attending.
Messi believes beginning pre-season with the rest of the squad would contradict his stance that he is now a free agent.
The 33-year-old sent a burofax to Barcelona on Tuesday communicating his desire to leave on a free transfer.
700 million release clause
Barcelona continue to insist that notice that he wanted to leave should have been served in June and that he is back under contract with a 700 millon euros (833 million dollars) release clause.
Messi has been linked with a move to Premier League Manchester City where he would be reunited with former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
