This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
On August 25, 2020, Lionel Messi sent a fax to Barcelona announcing his desire to rescind his contract, citing a release clause. The move comes after a difficult season for the Spanish giants, which included a humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Barcelona maintains that the release clause expired in June, leaving Messi under contract until the end of the 2021 season. However, Messi's lawyers argue that the clause is still valid, allowing him to unilaterally terminate his contract.
The announcement has sparked a crisis at Barcelona, which has not won a trophy since the 2007-08 season. Messi, a six-time Ballon d'Or winner, has been a key player for the club, helping them win 10 Spanish league titles and four Champions Leagues.
Despite the club's efforts to convince him to stay, Messi's decision to leave has been met with mixed reactions. New head coach Ronald Koeman expressed his desire for Messi to remain at the club, saying, 'I don’t know if I have to convince Messi (to stay). Of course he is the best player in the world and you want the best player in the world in your team – you don’t want him playing against you.'
