Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is reportedly ready to step aside - if Lionel Messi publicly declares it will keep him at the club.
Messi has thrown the Catalan club into further chaos by communicating his desire to leave the club immediately.
The superstar has grown frustrated at their recent Champions League failures and was reportedly not impressed by new manager Ronald Koeman.
He has also been left angered by the treatment of close friend Luis Suarez, who Bartomeu is seemingly trying to force out of the club.
According to local TV channel TV3 (via AS), Bartomeu has now said he is willing to resign immediately if it will convince Messi to stay.
But he will insist that Messi must publicly confirm that he believes the president is the main problem and ask him to resign.
If that happens, then it is claimed Bartomeu would step aside with his board remaining in place with an interim president until the next elections.
Former president Joan Gaspart, meanwhile, is adamant Messi will not leave.
"(Messi) cannot leave," he told Radio Marca. "He will have to leave in 2021. I have seen the contract and it is very clear. The clause ended in June and there is no going back.
"I prefer him to leave next year for zero than to go now for less than €700m. The club is in charge here, not the player.
"The club paid the players. And this is not a matter of money, there is a signed contract and that’s it."
