BARCELONA interim president Carles Tusquets has promised to investigate Lionel Messi’s contract leak – and denies being the man behind the saga.
The Argentinian talisman wants to launch legal action against whoever revealed the details of his mega deal.
Lionel Messi is preparing legal action against the culprit of the leakCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Interim Barcelona president Carles Tusquets has opened the club’s own investigationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A leak to Spanish newspaper El Mundo earlier this month revealed Messi’s whopping £492million of earnings over the course of the four-year contract.
Interim chief Tusquets has vowed that he and his fellow board members were not responsible.
He told Deportes Cuatro on Tuesday: “The details of the contract have not come out through the management, because none of us have ever asked for them.
“We have opened an investigation in the club.”
Much attention has been paid to the deal expiring in the summer, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City thought to be preparing a bid to sign the 33-year-old.
But Barcelona hope to convince him to stay and successfully investigating the matter could be key.
Tusquets is taking temporary charge of the LaLiga giants until the delayed presidential elections are completed in March.
Whoever of Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font is chosen for the role faces a fight to keep Messi.
The coronavirus pandemic has bitten the Catalan club hard, leading to the striker’s salary package being seen as even more astronomical than before.
German side Bayern Munich have ruled themselves out of the running for Messi’s signature having seen the numbers involved.
BET OF THE DAY: GET LIVERPOOL AT 10/1 vs LEIPZIG – PLUS MESSI AND MBAPPE 70/1 OFFER
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge disparaged the amount when speaking to Italian daily Corriere della Sera earlier in the week, saying: “I laughed when I saw Messi’s contract with Barcelona.
“I can only say congratulations to him for obtaining an astronomical contract. But this salary situation needs to be changed.”
Prospective bidders PSG will have the chance to bulk up their scouting report of the superstar forward when they play Barcelona on Tuesday.
Messi goes into the Champions League last-16 first leg with nine goals in his last eight matches.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Barcelona fans vent their fury on PSG chief Al Khelaifi over Messi chase
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
