Messi has option to leave Barca next summer

By: The Associated Press Posted: 8:55 AM CDT Saturday, Sep. 7, 2019 Last Modified: 9:43 AM CDT Saturday, Sep. 7, 2019

Advertise with us

BARCELONA, Spain - Barcelona's club president has confirmed that Lionel Messi would have the right to leave the club at the end of this season, as stipulated in his contract.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

BARCELONA, Spain - Barcelona's club president has confirmed that Lionel Messi would have the right to leave the club at the end of this season, as stipulated in his contract.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/09/2019 (2536 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BARCELONA, Spain – Barcelona’s club president has confirmed that Lionel Messi would have the right to leave the club at the end of this season, as stipulated in his contract.

Spanish newspaper El País reported Thursday that Messi’s current contract with Barcelona includes the option for the soccer great to unilaterally end his stay in the summer of 2020.

Club president Josep Bartomeu said late Friday that “Leo Messi has a contract through 2020-21, but before that last season the player could leave Barca.”

Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi, right, holds the award of UEFA Champions League forward of the season 2018/19 as he poses with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin during the group stage draw at the Grimaldi Forum, in Monaco, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Bartomeu, however, said he was confident that the club’s all-time leading scorer would stay with the team “until 2021 and beyond.”

Messi, 32, has scored 603 goals in 687 matches for Barcelona since his debut in 2004. He has helped it win 34 titles, including four Champions League trophies and 10 Spanish leagues.

The Argentine has repeatedly said he is happy to play for the Spanish champions.