FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match, Feb. 25, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
Messi's fathter Jorge insists there isn't buyout cluase on his contract.
MADRID, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Leo Messi story took yet another turn on Friday when the Barcelona striker's father and representative, Jorge Messi, sent a communique to the Spanish football league (La Liga) rejecting the organization's claim that the 700 million euro release clause on his son's contract with Barca was still in effect.
La Liga issued a communique on August 30th, supporting FC Barcelona's assertion that the player would have to pay that quantity if he wants to leave the club (as he has stated he wants to do), while Messi's camp insist that a clause in the deal means the 33-year-old can leave for nothing this summer.
Jorge Messi flew into Barcelona on Wednesday to hold talks with Barca President Josep Maria Bartomeu to resolve the issue. However, their first meeting on Wednesday failed to see their postures come any closer.
Thursday saw some rumors in the press that the player was considering a U-turn to see out the remaining year of his contract, but Jorge Messi's communique implies there is no climb-down from the family.
"We do not know which contract you have analyzed and what is the basis for you to conclude that it has a "recession clause" which is applicable if the player decides to unilaterally extend this contract."
"This is down to a clear error on your behalf... This compensation will not be applied for the end of the contract by a unilateral decision by the player at the end of the 2019-2020 season," insisted Jorge Messi.
La Liga replied to the communique insisting that they were correct in their insistence over Leo Messi's release clause. ■
