Lionel Messi's contract leak: All that you need to know
What's the story
As Barcelona are wrestling with a huge debt amid the coronavirus pandemic, the leak of Lionel Messi's contract details has added more questions. Messi's current contract with the Spanish giants is reportedly worth up to €555m (£492m) over four seasons. Spanish outlet El Mundo released the leaked details and latest developments suggest that both Barca and Messi are planning to take legal action.
Pay deal
Messi's income close to £122m each season
Spain's El Mundo newspaper claimed it had access to the document Messi signed with Barcelona in 2017, which included fixed incomes and extras that could reach nearly €138m (£122m) each season. It is thought to be the biggest pay deal ever for an athlete. Notably, Messi would have to pay about half of that amount in taxes in Spain.
Information
Most expensive contract ever paid to an athlete: Report
The report claims that Messi had already secured more than €510m (£452m) of the total contract, which the newspaper said was the most expensive contract ever paid to an athlete.
Legal action
Barcelona and Messi are expected to take legal action
According to a report in ESPN, both Barcelona and Messi are expected to take legal action against the Spanish outlet which released the leaked details of the Argentine's record-breaking contract. There are only four copies of the contract. Messi has one, Barcelona have another, the Spanish league has a copy and so does Cuatrecasas, the law firm used by the Argentine.
Statement
FC Barcelona issue statement after information gets leaked
"In view of the information published today El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties," the Catalan club said in a statement.
Barca
Barcelona deny responsibility for the publication of the document
Barcelona denied any responsibility for the publication and said legal action will be taken. "FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication."
Reactions
Barca express their support for Messi, Koeman demands more respect
Barca expressed their support for Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image. Manager Ronald Koeman said the leak was "was [done] with malicious intent to do damage." "More respect should be shown to a player that's given so much to Spanish football. We must try and find out how the contract's come out in the press," he said.
Future
Messi's future at Barca is unknown at the moment
Messi's future at the club beyond the 2020-21 season remains unknown. The senior player tried to leave the club last summer but was shut down by then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu. In a recent interview, he stated that he has not yet made a decision on his future and will decide his next step when the season ends.
Quote
Koeman furious after Messi's contract details get leaked
Koeman said if the information has been leaked from within the club, that's very bad. "If the leak is from within the club, that's very bad. If someone from inside the club has leaked it, they cannot have a future at the club."
Debt
Barcelona's gross debt is close to €1.2 billion
The report in ESPN added that negotiations over a new deal will not be able to begin until March and the new terms will have to correspond with the Barca's new financial position. The club's annual accounts, dated August 2020, revealed earlier this month that Barcelona's gross debt have risen to nearly €1.2 billion.