700m release clause not valid, Jorge Messi tells La Liga

Lionel Messi's lawyers have released a statement, which reads like a letter from the player's father and agent, Jorge, to La Liga. It states that the player has the right to leave Barcelona without paying a buyout clause.

The club considers that the €700 million buyout clause is still in effect, a position that La Liga backed up with a statement of their own.

Messi's father argued that there was no applicable buy-out clause.

In the letter, Jorge Messi accuses La Liga of being clearly biased, given that it is supporting the interests of its members (clubs).

He goes on to say that he does not know which contract La Liga analysed or how they reached their decision that there was a buyout clause that would apply when the player decided to unilaterally terminate the contract at the end of the 19/20 season.

He adds that La Liga has made a clear error, and cites clause 8.2.3.6 of the contract between Messi and Barcelona, which says that the clause will not apply if Messi decides to terminate the contact before the end of the 2019-20 season.

Jorge Messi finishes by saying it is obvious that the €700 million clause does not apply.

LaLiga were also quick to reply to Jorge Messi's letter, addressed to LaLiga president Tebas. According to La SER's Carrusel programme, the press note reiterates what LaLiga wrote in their statement of 30 August that Messi's contract and the buy-out clause remain valid.

The Argentine's future has been up in the air, with reports initially saying that he was destined for Manchester City.

However, the English club could not afford the buyout clause and had reportedly communicated that they could only sign the player if he were to arrive for free.