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Barcelona insist Lionel Messi can only legally leave for free if he does not play next season, according to reports.
The two parties have different views on Messi’s contract’s 700 million euro buyout clause.
ESPN According to Barça’s interpretation of the clause, Messi could leave the club but would have to give up his salary and could not sign for a new club until the following summer.
However, Messi and his representatives argue that he has already activated a clause to cancel his contract, hence his reason for not attending Sunday’s preseason tests at the club’s training facilities.
The Argentine included the contract when he signed an extension in 2017, but Barça believe that the deadline to activate the clause this season has passed.
Jorge Messi, the 33-year-old’s father and agent, will meet this week with the club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, to discuss the situation.
Both parties want to avoid a landmark court case over the release clause and are willing to discuss a solution.
Barça still have a two-year contract extension on the table for Messi.
But it is increasingly unlikely that the superstar will remain at the Camp Nou beyond this summer.
