How Lionel Messi Could Still Sign For A New Club In January

Lionel Messi has committed his short-term future to Barcelona - but could still sign for a new club in January.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner handed in a transfer request last month and looked set to leave the club, before reversing his decision on Friday.

Messi has expressed frustration at the club's direction under president Josep Bartomeu, who will be leaving his role in March.

While Messi's deal, which expires next summer, means he is free to negotiate with any club for a move from January 1.

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European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT the Catalan giants could be in a race against time to keep Messi committed to the club.

"Barcelona don't have the will to compromise," he begun.

"And Messi contractually is not on the firm ground that he thought he was in terms of being able to walk away for free.

"I think there's no a club out there, even with him being the player that he is, who's gonna whack out €700 million just on transfer fees.

"That's before we get to signing-on, agent's fees, those wages, etc, for a player that they could sign for free in January.

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"So it looks like Messi's gonna wait it out. What happens between January and March?

"Because January 1 is the point from which he could sign for another club. A Premier League club or any other club for free from June onwards.

"And March is the date that Josep Bartomeu - the president of Barcelona who's caused so much of this mess - is going to leave the club.

"So there needs to be a presidential candidate that's gonna come forward and say, 'I can fix this club and I can make Messi stay.'

"So much of what happens in the coming months is going to be revolving really around the presidential race.

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"Because of course, in that two month gap between January 1 and Barcelona getting a new president, he could've already joined someone else...

"The fact is Barcelona's his home. It's his one and only club.

"I think there is room to persuade him, but it just depends who is a candidate he can believe in.

"Whether that's in the form of Joan Laporta or someone else. Someone he believes can bring Barcelona back to a good place."

Messi's likely destination should he choose to depart the Camp Nou is Premier League outfit Manchester City.