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LaLiga has sided with Barcelona in its ongoing contract dispute with forward Lionel Messi, who did not arrive for his scheduled Covid-19 test with the club on Sunday morning.
The 33-year-old told Barcelona bosses on Tuesday night that he wishes to leave the Camp Nou, believing he has a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for free.
Barcelona disputes that claim, with reports suggesting that the clause expired in early summer.
As the issue is likely to continue, LaLiga issued a statement Sunday morning insisting that they would only recognize Messi’s departure if his release clause, which is believed to be around 700 million euros, is paid.
“In compliance with the applicable regulations, and following the corresponding procedure in these cases, LaLiga will not carry out the prior visa procedure for the player to be discharged from the federation if he has not previously paid the amount of said clause”, its statement . read.
It is understood that Messi chose not to conduct a routine coronavirus check today ahead of Barcelona’s preseason training schedule on Monday.
Messi’s refusal to take the test means that he would not be authorized to bond with his teammates, as new Barça boss Ronald Koeman seeks to work with his team for the first time.
Messi was part of the Barcelona team that was beaten 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, but has now been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester City to work with the former manager. Pep Guardiola.
With the continuing disagreements about the validity of the clause reported in your agreement, there will likely be no quick result.
Barcelona sports director Ramon Planes said earlier in the week that the LaLiga giants “will count on Messi for the future” despite the player’s apparent desire to leave a club with which he has been associated since age 13. .
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