Barcelona believes the only way Lionel Messi can legally leave the club for free is if he commits to not playing soccer next season.
Messi is attempting to exercise a clause in the contract he signed in 2017 that allows him to leave for free at the end of each season. The deadline for the clause was in June, but Messi believes it should be pushed back to the end of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reports in Spain over the weekend claimed Messi\'s €700 million buyout clause is no longer active, causing further confusion. Barcelona insists that is not the case.