The Argentine star believes he is eligible to leave the Camp Nou for nothing, as part of a clause in his contract.
But The League itself has ruled that its claim is invalid: that potential suitors like Manchester City will have to pay their 630 million pound (A1.14 billion dollars) release clause in full.
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Informed through Richard Martin of Reuters, LaLiga’s said: “According to the applicable rule, LaLiga will not approve an application for opt-out as a player of the Spanish Football Federation, unless the amount of the termination clause has been paid.”
Messi, 33, sent a fax to the club on Tuesday informing him of his decision to exercise the clause of his agreement to leave the club for free.
But Barcelona maintained that it was expiring on 10 June.
Messi’s representatives, however, say that due to the season extension after the coronavirus blockade, an extension will be granted.
The LaLiga statement, however, vehemently denies such a right.
It is possible that the scenario will ring again and again, as Messi rejected the club’s Covid-19 tests this morning.
Barcelona’s first team, together with their compatriot Luis Suárez, has arrived for the pre-season tests.
But Messi is not one of them.
This means that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will not compete in Ronald Koeman’s first education consultation tomorrow.
Fans have come to the Camp Nou to protest against the club after Messi’s resolution to leave.
But it seems that the boy himself will meet former boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
According to L’Equipe, PSG manager Leonardo has contacted Messi’s father Jorge in an attempt to strike a deal, only to be told that he has selected City.
And Mundo Deportivo’s Francesc Aguilar reported this week that the city’s ideal leader, Ferran Soriano, assured Messi’s team that it could be a deal, even if the clause was rejected, as has been the case.
This article first impressed The Sun and has been reprinted with permission.
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