Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has insisted that Lionel Messi cannot leave the Camp Nou as a free agent, despite the fact that he has asked the club board to release him from the contract.
Gaspart stressed that Messi’s current contract with Barca underlines that the Argentine had the opportunity to activate the release clause until June, which he did not do.
Therefore, according to him, Messi can leave only if 700 million euros of his clause are paid by any club that wants to buy him.
Joan Gaspart, former president of Barcelona
But Barcelona may even agree to negotiate Messi’s price with the clubs that want him.
“Messi cannot leave now. He has to leave in 2021 if he wants to.” Gaspart told MARCA.
“I have seen his contract and everything is clear. His clause expired in June and there is no going back.” he added.
“The club is the boss here, not the player. The club pays the players. This is not a matter of money, he has signed a contract and that is all.” he underlined.
