Barcelona salute Lionel Messi's decision to stay

Barcelona has hailed Lionel Messi's decision to remain at the club.

Messi said he had been forced to stay because president Josep Maria Bartomeu would not let him exercise a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave for free.

However, Barcelona highlighted Messi's pledge to give his all for the team by posting a picture of the striker on Instagram in the club's new kit, with the caption: "I'm going to give my best. My love for Barça will never change".