LaLiga have cleared up the confusion
After reports broke in Spain claiming that Lionel Messi's release clause of €700 million didn't exist in his current contract for the 2019/20 season, LaLiga have issued a statement to clarify the situation.
The league have confirmed that Messi is still contractually bound to Barcelona and a release clause in his contract is still valid.
They said: "In relation to the different interpretations (some of them contradictory to each other) published in recent days in different media, related to the contractual situation of the player Lionel Andrés Messi with FC Barcelona, LaLiga wishes to clarify that with regards to the player's contract with his club:
"The contract is currently in force and has a "termination clause" applicable to the event that Lionel Andrés Messi decides to activate the early unilateral termination of the contract, carried out in accordance with article 16 of Royal Decree 1006/1985, of June 26, which regulates the special employment relationship of professional athletes.
In compliance with the applicable regulations, and following the corresponding procedure in these cases, LaLiga will not carry out the prior visa process for the player to be removed from the federation if they have not previously paid the amount of said clause."
