Lionel Messi's mammoth £492 million Barcelona contract contains a number of interesting clauses.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner's enormous deal at the Nou Camp, signed in 2017 and said to be the biggest in sport, was leaked by El Mundo over the weekend.
The publication claim Messi earns a maximum of €555,237,619 [£491,732,285.73] over four seasons if a series of conditions are met.
Messi has reportedly already earned around £452 million (excluding taxes) from the contract, which includes a £69 million loyalty bonus on top of a guaranteed £122 million gross salary.
But further details have emerged stating that Messi would be required to "integrate into Catalan society and culture" and "adopt a suitable personal conduct and rhythm of life" as well as never partake in doping, as part of the agreement.
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And the big takeaway was that the contact does contain a scenario that would allow Messi to leave on a free.
Unrelated to the situation in the summer where he felt he was able to use the exit clause in his deal, this stipulation was that Messi would be entitled to depart for nothing in the event that Catalonia gained independence.
Catalonia were striving for independence from Spain in 2017 but it never materialised. Had it happened, it's said Barcelona would have been kicked out of La Liga and granted Messi a special reprieve.
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Moreover, Messi earned an extra £616,172 (€695,748) for being crowned the Best Men's player by FIFA, while he pockets £3.1 million if Barcelona end their wait for another Champions League.
£1.75 million is the fee he receives for playing over 60 per cent of Barca's games, which seems a given.
Both Messi are set to take legal action against El Mundo for publishing the contract story with the headline, "Messi has ruined Barcelona".
In addition, manager Ronald Koeman has said any Barca employee involved in the leak should be sacked.
"Whoever published this had bad intentions and wanted to cause Barca damage," Koeman said.
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"But we have to be united and focused, we have to forget about whatever has been published.
"Without Leo we couldn't aspire to win very much. We have known for a very long time that he is the best player in the world, he has done so much for this club and is decisive. We have to respect everything Messi has done.
"If this was someone from the club they cannot have a future here."
Topics: Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Lionel Messi
