Barcelona, ​​Lionel Messi to sue after $ 674 million contract leak

Lionel Messi and Barcelona won’t stand the leak of the superstar’s massive contract.

Both the club and the player will take legal action against Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which on Sunday released the details of the four-year deal that Messi, widely recognized as the greatest player of all time, signed with the Spanish titan in 2017.

The deal is worth a whopping $ 674 million – by far the richest in professional sports.

In a strongly worded statement released shortly after the global story explosion, Barcelona denied having given the document to the point of sale, while also announcing its intention to sue.

“Given the information published today in El Mundo newspaper regarding the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication, as it is a private document that respects the principle of confidentiality between FC Barcelona is subject to parties, ”read the statement.

The club will “take appropriate legal action against El Mundo to prevent damage that could be caused by this release”.

Regardless of any lawsuits Barcelona might bring against the paper, Messi’s lawyers are expected to seek damages on their client’s behalf, according to ESPN. This report states that only four parties have copies of the contract: Messi, his law firm, Barcelona and La Liga.

The unveiling of the otherworldly compensation Messi receives – dwarfing the North American record of $ 503 million, 10-year deal that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes overshadowed last year – after a sharp drop in form and finances in Barcelona in recent seasons. As such, El Mundo’s report was understandably the talk of the football world on Sunday. But the scorching test and impending legal drama didn’t seem to distract the 33-year-old Argentine as he stepped onto the field a few hours later.

On the other hand; Messi, who tried unsuccessfully to force his way out of Barcelona last summer, celebrated perhaps his best performance of the 2020/21 season in a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening.

The story goes on

Messi, who was on the red card against Bilbao two weeks ago when Barcelona were upset in the Spanish Super Cup final, opened the standings at Camp Nou with one of his typical banana pokes with his left foot:

The visitors already pulled through an own goal from Jordi Alba early in the second half but Antoine Griezmann broke the tie to help Barcelona get a small amount of revenge and put main rivals Real Madrid in second place.

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