Jorge Messi tells La Liga that €700m clause has expired

2:10pm on Friday 4th September 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge Messi has sent a letter to La Liga president Javier Tebas informing that the €700m release clause which would need to be triggered for his son to leave Barcelona is "not applicable".

Last Tuesday, Messi announced his intention to leave Barcelona by sending a fax to the club requesting that his contract be terminated, allowing him to leave for free to another team.

Barca, and then La Liga, subsequently insisted that Messi would only be allowed to leave should his release clause be met.

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However, Jorge Messi, quoting directly from his son's contract, informed the Spanish footballing authority that the clause was no longer in place.

"This compensation will not apply when the resolution of the contract, by the unilateral decision of the player, takes effect from the end of the 2019-20 sporting season," he quoted, with reference to the €700m.

Messi wants to leave for free. Man City are waiting because they can’t afford the €700m clause - just negotiation involving players or signing Leo for free as he’s convinced to win the legal battle against Barcelona.
Still same position by Barça: “The €700m clause is valid”. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/GdY17vjxuV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 4, 2020

He then commented on the contract details, saying, "It's obvious that the compensation of €700m... does not apply at all."

Messi previously had another clause in his current deal allowing him to leave for free which was believed to have expired in May.

But, Messi's camp argue that this clause remains as the season was extended due to the coronavirus.

Should the Argentine superstar leave eventually, Manchester City and Inter are leading the pack to claim his signature.

Messi is keen to avoid an undignified exit from the club he has been with for 20 years since the age of 13, which is why Jorge Messi met Barca officials on Thursday before indicating that there was a possibility that his son could stay for another year.

However, this latest revelation pushes Messi further towards the exit at the Camp Nou.

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