Lionel Messi and father release statement denying existence of €700m release clause

It seems Messi still wants to leave for free

Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have sent a letter to LaLiga chief Javier Tebas, denying the existence of a €700m release clause in his current contract with Barcelona. Or at least, claiming that the clause no longer applies with regard to Messi's desire to leave Barcelona. It seems Messi's camp are still insistent that the player is entitled to leave for free in this window, while Barcelona hold firm claiming any buyers must match the release clause. In short, not much has changed. The letter read: "We do not know which contract they [Liga] have analysed, and which are the bases on which they conclude that it would have a termination clause "applicable in the event that the player decides to urge the unilateral termination of the same. "This one about the €700m release clause must be an error on La Liga's part." https://twitter.com/tsf_podcast/status/1301862565908230150 Messi still wants to leave for free, Barcelona are still insistent that he is bound by a release clause and Man City still want him but are waiting for this internal dispute to play out because they won't pay €700m for him.