La Liga has issued a statement on the dispute between Lionel Messi’s contract at Barcelona indicating that he will not be allowed to leave without paying a fee.
With heavy anticipation for Manchester City to acquire the player, the details are still in the air on how much they would have to pay, if anything, for a signing at the club.
However, Messi’s camp have made various comments insisting that due to a clause in his contract that would allow for early termination from Barcelona, the player would be able to walk as a free agent.
This may be up in the air now though, with Messi failing to report for testing ahead of a return to pre-season training on Monday.
Barcelona has countered this statement by suggesting that the clause which would allow Messi to leave has reportedly already passed the specific date. The club is determined on keeping the player who has a release of £632m.
La Liga jumped into the mix to clarify the contract saying the release clause is still valid and can be used in this case stating:
“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, La Liga wishes to clarify that with regards to 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 activate the early unilateral termination of the contract, carried out in accordance with article 16 of Royal Decree 1006/1985, of June 26, which regulates the special employment relationship of professional athletes.”
They added, “In compliance with the applicable regulations, and following the corresponding procedure in these cases, La Liga 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.”