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Lionel Messi Can Terminate Barcelona Contract Because Of Transfer Clause

Lionel Messi Can Terminate Barcelona Contract Because Of Transfer Clause

He has to option to leave Barcelona at the end of every season.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has the option to terminate his contract at the end of every season.

It appears the player's current deal with the Catalan giants includes a transfer clause that states he can walk away on June 30 of every season after turning 32, according to El Pais.

That means the five-time Ballon d'Or winner had the option to leave Barca this year after celebrating his 32nd birthday, but decided to stay on.

Messi isn't the only player to have this clause included in his contract. Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta were all allowed to call time on their careers every year at the same age.

Image: FC Barcelona
Image: FC Barcelona

He continues to negotiate a new contract as president Josep Maria Bartomeu consistently brings up renewal discussions in conversations with the media.

"Messi's contract is up in two years but, given how he is playing, we will have him for many more years," Bartomeu said via GOAL.

"Leo is intelligent, he knows how to measure things. If he feels good, he will tell us.

"When he decides, we will renew his deal. Messi is the best player in history."

The Argentinian forward will undoubtedly go down as the club's greatest player, so it's no surprise that president Bartomeu wants him to stay for the rest of his playing days.

Back in May, the 56-year-old said that Messi will "never leave" Barca and "might even" play until he's 45 years old:

"He might even play until he's 45, who knows?" the president said.

"We know he'll play three, four, five years more, we don't know how many - as many as he wants. We're preparing: players like [Ousmane] Dembélé, [Clément] Lenglet, Arthur are there to build a team for when Messi stops playing.

"But I still see it as a long way off. I don't think that day is near. And we tell the players who play and train with him: 'Make the most of every minute.'

"We are talking to the family but it's very early to say. He's a footballer. So we talk football. But he will stay here with us. He's a club man."

Then again, Messi has said in past interviews that the only club he would ever leave Barcelona for is Newell's.

He grew up playing for Newell's Old Boys and spent six years with the club before joining Barcelona in 2001.

In the past, vice-president Cristian D'Amico has revealed his confidence in bringing the former prodigy back to his boyhood club.

"I am convinced, like many of my peers, that we can make history as a club if we get the best player in the world in a Newell's shirt. I think we're going to get the pleasure of Messi wearing the shirt."

"Imagine a game with Messi in the Coloso [Estadio Marcelo Bielsa], with the press around the world. The sponsors who would come... that would make a difference economically, apart from the sentimental value, and could make a big difference to clean up the debts."

Do you think Messi will play for Barca for the rest of his playing days?

Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Messi, Lionel Messi