La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona v Alaves - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 18, 2018 Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Albert Gea]Lionel Messi’s shock announcement that he wants to leave Barcelona looks like the opening salvo in negotiations around the fine detail of his contract and the all-important get-out clause, a Spanish sports lawyer said on Wednesday. Messi’s lawyers have referred to a clause in the four-year contract he signed in 2017 which would have allowed him to leave the club for free, but only if he requested it by June 10. SEE ALSO: Lionel Messi told he lacks respect and must pay Sh89 billion to cancel Barcelona contractBarcelona's Lionel Messi (C) and Andres Iniesta (R) celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Manchester United at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, May 27, 2009. “Because of COVID, what they need to assess as well as the date is the intention of the parties,” he added. Because June 10 is 10 days after the last match or because it is 20 days before the transfer window opens on July 1?”.

Source: Standard Digital August 27, 2020 04:01 UTC