Barcelona are reportedly planning to offer Messi a new two-year deal in a desperate attempt to keep hold of their star.
Barcelona legend Lionel Messi rocked the world by handing a transfer request to the club last week which would see him leave Camp Nou on a free transfer.
The Catalan giants said the clause that entitled him to leave for free has expired in June and any suitors for Messi would have to pay his astronomical £625million release clause which is unlikely in this current market.
Messi’s dad Jorge is set to meet Barcelona president Joseph Bartemou for showdown talks on Wednesday.
According to reports, Bartomeu is planning to offer Messi a huge new deal to sway from any possible interests from the top clubs in Europe.
Currently, Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign the six-time Ballon d’Or winner and reunite with former boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
Last year, Messi was the world’s highest-paid athlete on wages of around £26m per year.
But Messi’s dad will ask Bartomeu to honour that clause even though La Liga are backing Barcelona’s efforts to retain their star player.
If Bartomeu refuses, the two parties can face a legal battle over the player’s £625m release clause.
The statement read: “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, LaLiga 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.
In compliance with the applicable regulations, and following the corresponding procedure in these cases, LaLiga 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.”
On Monday, Messi snubbed Ronald Koeman’s first training session after missing Barcelona’s coronavirus tests on Sunday.
See More: 5 Barcelona Players Leaving: Top 5 Exits From Barcelona in Summer 2020
