Barcelona president could ‘go to prison’ if he sells Messi
Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, could go to prison if he allows Lionel Messi to leave the club this summer.
That’s according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who said Bartomeu needs to do everything in his power to keep the Argentinian or face being accused of “mishandling assets”.
Messi sparked the biggest transfer saga of the summer last month by handing in a transfer request at Barca, informing club officials of his desire to leave via burofax.
After 16 years at the Nou Camp he is now seeking a new challenge, with reports suggesting Manchester City are leading the race for his signature.
However, Barca are not prepared to let him go that easily, stressing that the player still has a year remaining on his current contract – which includes a £630million release clause.
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Messi believes he is a free agent, nonetheless, due to another clause in the deal which reportedly allowed him to leave at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Catalans claim that clause expired on June 10, despite the season eventually concluding much later following the coronavirus pandemic, and will therefore only sell if a potential suitor activates his hefty release clause.
Messi has since taken matters into his own hands, refusing to turn up for pre-season training and Covid-19 tests at the club on Sunday.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner is now embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with Barca, which undoubtedly marks a sour end to his legendary stint at the Nou Camp.
Yet Balague has explained why Bartomeu needs to “fight Messi’s departure till the end” this summer, suggesting the Barca president could face jail time if he cashes in on him.
He posted on Twitter: “Reasons for Barto to insist on Messi staying. The coach wants him (when [Ronald] Koeman asked Barto, ‘do I have Messi’, president said, ‘yes’. Next day Jorge Messi rang Barto to tell him again that his son wants to go). Koeman has suggested that he’s make a strong team without Messi too.