FC Barcelona have denied any involvement in the sharing in public of the terms of the Argentine’s current deal in the Spanish media
Officials at the club said they are ready to take legal action after the publication of the details of Lionel Messi’s €555 million (£491m/$674m) contract.
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A spanish newspaper El Mundo had leaked documents revealing the terms of Messi’s current deal at Camp Nou, which is due to expire at the end of June, Goal.com reports.
The newspaper’s report stated 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.
Barca officials have now announced their intention to sue El Mundo for releasing Messi’s contract to the public without their permission.
Defamation of character
The club however described the incident as an attempt to defame ‘Messi’s 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.”
Messi has already pocketed €510m (£452m/$619m), with a further €45m (£40m/$55m) set to come his way over the next six months.
El Mundo claimed that the 33-year-old is the best-paid athlete in the history of professional sport.
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