Lionel Messi has already informed the club about his decision to leave this summer. He wants to terminate his contract with Barcelona. This news has shaken the Barcelona fans while others are drooling at the idea of seeing Messi play for their favourite clubs.
Now, the main debate is whether Messi will be allowed to leave for free or will he have to pay his release clause in order to leave the club.
Messi had a clause in his Barcelona contract that allowed him to leave at the end of the season but that expired on June 10, so his ‘free clause’ ends technically. However, like what happened with other transfers, FIFA had to extend due to the anomaly in timings due to the COVID-19, so it may happen that he could be allowed to leave for free.
Now, LaLiga has released an official statement on Sunday where they have clearly stated that “Current deal is still valid and paying release clause for €700m is the only way out.”.
The official statement read: “In relation to the different interpretations (some of them contradictory to each other) published in recent days in different media, related to the contractual situation of the player Lionel Andrés Messi with FC Barcelona, LaLiga considers it convenient to clarify that, once the player’s contract with his club:
- The contract is currently in force and has a “termination clause” applicable to the event that Lionel Andrés Messi decides to urge the early unilateral termination of the contract, carried out in accordance with article 16 of Royal Decree 1006/1985, of June 26, by which regulates the special employment relationship of professional athletes.
- In compliance with the applicable regulations, and following the corresponding procedure in these cases, LaLiga will not carry out the prior visa process for the player to be removed from the federation if they have not previously paid the amount of said clause.”.
Messi also after La Liga statement is not going to chance his mind. He wants to leave and to start a new chapter. Barcelona told him again they won’t let Leo go for free to Manchester City – and La Liga position is part of their strategy. The saga is on. 🚨🇦🇷 #Messi #FCB #MCFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2020
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Messi isn’t going to change his mind even after the official statement by LaLiga. He is determined to leave Barcelona this summer.
Messi wants to leave for free as he thinks due to the season extension his contract termination date has also been extended automatically. But LaLiga has given their verdict in favour of Barcelona.
Messi’s next possible destination Manchester City are even ready to pay a reasonable transfer fee for Messi. But Barcelona doesn’t want to sell him and the only way out for any club is to pay his release clause.
But the Argentine is hell-bent not to play under Bartomeu and his board. He feels mistreated and is frustrated with their project. He doesn’t like Barcelona’s vision of the future and wants to play under Pep Guardiola once again.
This transfer saga is heating up with both the sides sticking to their decisions.
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