The Barcelona expressed this Wednesday “his indignation” at the publication by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo of the requests allegedly made by the Argentine star Leo Messi to renew in 2020.
“FC Barcelona expresses its outrage at the self-serving leak of information that would form part of a legal proceeding,” Barça said in a statement.
Messi’s requests to renew, according to El Mundo
According to the newspaper The world, To renew in 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, Messi agreed to lower his salary by 20 percent, but asked to recover it in the following two years with interest (3 percent), a bonus of 10 million euros (9.8 million dollars) for the renewal and lower his termination clause to a symbolic 10,000 euros ($9,883).
These requests are included in emails between the player’s father and representative, Jorge Messi, the player’s lawyers and the main directors of the Barça club, including then-president Joan Bartomeu, to whom El Mundo had access.
The player would also have asked for a box at the Camp Nou for his family and that of Luis Suárez, the payment of a private flight for the Messi family to Argentina at Christmas or an increase in remuneration in the event of a tax increase.
According to El Mundo, Messi was earning then, in June 2020, “74.9 million euros (74 million dollars) net per year” and after several negotiations, Barça did not agree to lower the player’s clause or the payment of the €10 million bonus. The player did not move from his position either and “at the end of August 2020, just two months after the last contacts, he sent a burofax requesting his departure from the club,” writes El Mundo.
Barcelona studies presenting legal actions
Barça regretted this Wednesday that El Mundo “brags of having had ‘access to a huge amount of documentation and emails that are in the possession of the Barçagate investigation’ when this information and documentation have not yet been shared with the parties.”
The ‘Barçagate’, uncovered in 2020 by Cadena Ser radio, consisted of hiring the company I3 Ventures to allegedly carry out a smear campaign on social networks against opponents of Bartomeu and figures such as Messi, Piqué or the current coach Xavi Hernandez.
Barça affirms that the published documents “have nothing to do with the investigation of the case and their use threatens the reputation and confidentiality of the club.”
“For this reason, and with the aim of protecting the rights of FC Barcelona, the club’s legal services are already studying the appropriate measures to undertake,” concludes Barça.
SPORTS
with AFP
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