{LaLiga} Real Madrid Reaction On Messi Terminating His Contract

Real Madrid players were “stunned” by Lionel Messi’s request to leave Barcelona this transfer window, ESPN reports.

The players exchanged frantic WhatsApp messages amongst themselves after the news broke that Messi had faxed the club about his intentions to exit the club.

A day later, on Wednesday, Los Blancos players were reportedly still saying they found it hard to believe that the 33-year-old would follow through on his threat to dump their bitter rivals after a long time in the club.

Not a single member of this Real Madrid squad has played El Clasico without Messi. Even Sergio Ramos joined the summer after Messi made his competitive Barca debut then in October 2004.

Messi is the all-time Clasico top scorer with 26 goals, 18 of them in LaLiga matches.

However, he might now be playing in England on his next term, with Manchester City keen to reunite him with Pep Guardiola at Etihad.