“Will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo”: Barcelona Lash Out After Details Of Messi’s 492 Million Pound Contract Were Leaked

The club has not taken kindly to the leaked details

Sunday morning saw the world of football rocked as reports emanating from Spain divulged the details of Lionel Messi’s ongoing contract at Barcelona. Newspaper El Mundo ran the story of the player’s deal at the club, one which poured insight into the gargantuan money the club has poured his way.

The report which shed light on the 492 million pounds Messi had been offered for a deal running for 2017 to 2022 has since taken the fraternity by aplomb. The report becomes even more sensational owing to the financial crisis in which Barcelona find themselves with the club having massed a debt running in excess of 1 billion euros.

Barcelona Hit Out At El Mundo

Ever since, Barcelona have issued a statement, one where they have not denied any role in leaking the contract but also affirming that they would be taking El Mundo to the court.

“FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication,” the club said on the fiasco.

Nitty Gritties Of Messi’s Contract

As per the leak to El Mundo which many claim was made by Josep Maria Bartomeu, the club’s previous president, Messi’s entire contract, including variables, amounts to a grand total of €555,237,619 (£491,732,285.73) over four years. According to the report, 92% of the variables stipulated in the contract – which was signed in 2017 -have already been fulfilled, meaning that the total salary Messi has earned is €511,540,545 (£453,033,066.98).

The fixed salary, or the minimum amount of money the Argentine was scheduled to earn, was €245,314,080 (£2172,56,268.58).

The deal entails a €14,194,576 (£12,571,070.59) bonus for winning the Champions League, a bonus of between €9,463,064 (£8,380,725.53) and €4,731,532 (£4,190,362.77) for winning the league

The 33-year-old player could also earn a bonus of between €2,365,768 (£2,095,183.15) and €591,552 (£523,893.21) for winning another Ballon d’Or.

Messi also earned a renewal premium of €97,941,250 (£86,739,214.13) and a loyalty premium of €66,240,462 (£58,664,205.51), as well as a fixed image contract of €43,290,720 (£38,339,341.51).

The deal is said to be the driving force behind Barcelona’s shambolic financial ruins. The club is slated to collapse in the impending time if it is unable to clear a sizeable part of its behemoth debt.

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