Lionel Messi absent from Barcelona training again a day after saying 'I'll stay' - in pictures

The likes of Luis Suarez and Phillipe Coutinho were present

Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez leaves the Joan Gamper Ciutat Esportiva after training. AFP

Luis Suarez arrives for training on September 5, 2020. EPA

Philippe Coutinho arrives for training on September 5, 2020. EPA

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal arrives to for training. EPA

Barcelona's Spanish defender Gerard Pique arrives at the Joan Gamper Ciutat Esportiva. AFP

Gerard Pique. EPA

Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho arrives for training. AFP

Ousmane Dembele arrives for training on September 5, 2020. EPA

A screenshot shows an interview with Lionel Messi at his home in Barcelona by GOAL. Handout via Reuters

Barcelona's Spanish defender Jordi Alba. AFP

Barcelona's Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo. AFP

Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge Messi arrives at his lawyers' office in Barcelona, Spain September 4, 2020. Reuters

A woman touches the hand of Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, depicted on a poster with teammates Spanish defender Gerard Pique (left), Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets (second right) and Barcelona's Spanish defender Sergi Roberto, outside the Camp Nou. AFP

Lionel Messi may have reversed his decision to leave Barcelona, but it isn't normal service resumed just yet.

The Argentine, who on Friday said he had reluctantly agreed to stay at the Spanish giants to avoid taking them to court over his wish to depart, was again absent from training on Saturday morning.

While the likes of Jordi Alba, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez arrived for the session, Messi failed to appear at the Joan Gamper training complex.

Barcelona also tweeted a list of players who were back in action on the training pitch, including Carles Alena and Riqui Puig, but there was no mention of Messi.

The club did acknowledge Messi's about turn on Friday with a single line quote from the player, saying: “I will give it my all. My love for Barca will never change.”

Messi was due to report to the club last weekend for coronavirus testing ahead of training, but failed to show.

Local media reported that Messi must still take a coronavirus test before he can be involved in training, and that should happen some time in the next few days.

The player had been seeking to leave on a free transfer, but La Liga released a statement saying his contract was still valid and that he can only leave if his €700 million (Dh3.039 billion) release clause is triggered.

The saga appears to have come to an end - for now - after he spoke publicly about the situation on Friday and clarified that he will remain at the Camp Nou.

You can read the full transcript of the interview here