Despite earning the most of any footballer in the world with his new improved Barcelona contract, Lionel Messi can still take a walk from the club.
There is a clause in the player’s new contract that would allow him to leave Barcelona if they were not in a competitive league, following claims that he wanted it added due to concern over Catalan independence.
What this means in essence is that Messi could decide to leave the club if Catalonia gets independence from Spain and Barcelona is neither a part of the Spanish, English, French or German league systems.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo had blown the lid open over the clause on Thursday.
However, the paper claimed that Messi could leave if Catalonia separated from Spain.
But the player’s father, Jorge, said this was not true.
He said, “All that has been said is not true.
“There is an agreement that Lionel will remain at the club as long as they are playing in a top league.
“If Catalonia gets independence then Lionel would remain as long as they were in a competitive league.”