Barcelona FC to take legal action after publication of Messi's €555m contract details.

 

The Blaugrana have denied having any involvement in the sharing in public of the terms of  Lionel Messi's current deal in the Spanish media.

Barcelona FC say the club is ready to take legal action after the publication of the details of Messi's €555 million (£491m/$674m) contract.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo leaked documents revealing the terms of Messi's current deal at FCB, which is due to expire at the end of June.

Their report states that the four-year agreement, which the Argentine signed in 2017, includes fixed incomes and bonus payments which amount to €138m (£112m/$167m) in annual earnings, with El Mundo claiming that the 33-year-old is the best-paid athlete in the history of professional sport.

The Argentine has been tipped to bring his 17-year career at Barca to an end this summer, with Barca reportedly unable to continue paying his lucrative wages amid mounting debts exceeding over €1.2 billion.

Blaugrana officials have now announced their intention to sue El Mundo for releasing Messi's contract to the public without their permission, while condemning attempts to defame the Argentine character and image.

"In view of the information published today in the newspaper 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," a statement on Barca's official website reads.

"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.

"FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history."