KOMPAS.com – A special clause for terminating the contract unilaterally is the way Lionel Messi leaves Barcelona.
Lionel Messi activated the unilateral termination clause and notified Barcelona on Tuesday (25/8/2020) local time.
If the clause is agreed upon, Lionel Messi, who still has one year of work remaining until June 2021, could leave Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
However, this particular clause is still a matter of controversy.
Barcelona and Lionel Messi have different views about the validity period of this clause.
This cannot be separated from the end of the 2019-2020 season competition which was delayed from June to August 2020 due to the corona virus pandemic.
Also read: Messi’s tempest in Barcelona is considered to be bad for Real Madrid
Messi has a special clause after extending his contract at Barcelona on 25 November 2017.
The public is of course now asking, why did Barcelona include a special clause to break the contract unilaterally when extending Messi’s contract?
The president of Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, once explained this in an interview in September 2019.
Bartomeu considered a special clause to break the contract unilaterally is a tradition in Barcelona to respect legends.
A special clause was included with the aim of giving the legends the freedom to determine the future at the end of his contract period.
Also read: Lionel Messi will hold a press conference, answer the issue of leaving Barcelona
In the interview, Bartomeu also admitted that Lionel Messi could indeed leave Barcelona at the start of the 2020-2021 season by activating a special clause.
“Lionel Messi extended his contract two years ago. Before the 2020-2021 season, Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona,” said Bartomeu in September 2019 quoted from the TyC Sports website.
“Messi can retire or move to another team one year before his contract expires. A clause like that is also obtained by Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, or Carles Puyol, the last time they extended their contract,” said Bartomeu.
“All Barcelona legends must have the freedom to determine their future. They deserve it,” Bartomeu added.
“They can decide whether to retire or defend another team after leaving Barcelona with that clause. They are all Barcelona legends, so I’m sure they will not move to another team (Europe),” said Bartomeu.
Also read: The response of Real Madrid players after knowing the issue of Messi wanting to leave Barca
In the interview, Bartomeu also believes Lionel Messi will retire at Barcelona despite having a contract termination clause.
“Messi is a Cules (a term for Barcelona supporters). I’m sure Mesi will still play at Barcelona,” said Bartomeu.
“I hope Messi stays at Barcelona not only until 2021,” said Bartomeu.
It is unlikely that Bartoemu’s hopes of seeing Messi stay at Barcelona will come true.
It is rumored that Lionel Messi’s decision to leave Barcelona this summer is unlikely to change.
Currently, Bartomeu is said to be ready to resign as President of Barcelona if that is the only way to make Lionel Messi survive.
Also read: Bartomeu criticized Barcelona supporters, former Real Madrid president gave defense
Quoted from the Sport.es website, Bartomeu has conveyed his sacrifice to Lionel Messi.
However, Lionel Messi and his father who also act as agents, Jorge Aracio, have not answered Bartomeu’s message.
Messi reportedly insists on leaving Barcelona and no longer accepts a contract extension.
Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona is likely to be answered early next week.
Barcelona is scheduled to hold a PCR test for all players on Sunday (29/8/2020).
The PCR test is part of Barcelona’s preparations before holding the first pre-season training under coach Ronald Koeman, Monday (30/8/2020).
If present in these two agendas, Lionel Messi is likely to stay at Barcelona.
However, if the opposite is true, Lionel Messi is likely to leave Barcelona this summer.
Lionel Messi is now rumored to have chosen Manchester City as his new team so he can reunite with his former coach, Pep Guardiola.
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