700m euro release clause may not be enough to keep Messi

Money involved in football transfers have reached gigantic proportions and clubs more than ever are trying to up the buy-out clause of their star players, especially after Neymar’s 222m euro move to PSG from Barcelona -- a move that changed the transfer market.

Barcelona were specially fearful of their star players, some of them being the best players in the world, being snatched away by rival clubs with money to spend. When Messi signed his new contract in November last year, Barca had tried to ensure that their star player cannot leave without the club being greatly reimbursed atleast financially.

However, there remains fear among Barca club officials that even the 700m euro marker might not be enough to keep Messi at the club. Barcelona's financial director Pancho Schroder believes a rival club might be willing to meet Lionel Messi's 700-million-euro release clause.

"We set up a clause which we think is enough to have Messi retire at FC Barcelona," he said, per Sky Sports. "But having said that, we thought a year ago that the clause for Neymar was also good enough to retain the player, and that proved last summer not to be the case."

Schroder felt that the market changed with Neymar transfer. Real Madrid raised the buy-out clause of star midfielder Isco to 700 millin euro as well while Cristiano Ronaldo has a buy-out clause of over 1bn euros.

"Looking at the future, I think, is difficult, but I don't have a crystal ball and these days things are getting a little bit crazy," he added.

Barca however may not be threatened by the fact that Messi has a buy-out clause that a rival might want to meet. The club has gained Messi’s allegiance and right now up till now, the club always had Messi’s loyalty.