LIONEL MESSI is reportedly ready to go to war with the Barcelona hierarchy by suing five ‘suspects’ after his £492million contract was leaked.
Spanish paper El Mundo sensationally published the full details of Messi’s astronomical deal at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
Lionel Messi is reportedly ready to sue five Barcelona insiders
And now new reports in Spain claim a furious Messi is ready to hit back at the people he thinks are behind the leak.
According to Catalan radio station RAC1, Messi is preparing legal action against five individuals whom he knows had access to the contract.
The report states they are: Former Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the club’s CEO Oscar Grau, the current interim president Carles Tusquets, ex-vice president Jordi Mestre and current legal chief Roman Gomez Ponti.
Messi is also reportedly ready for legal action against El Mundo.
It is the latest fissure in the relationship between Barcelona and their star player, with the Argentine icon almost leaving his boyhood club in the summer.
He signed the megabucks deal in 2017, and can walk away from the club for nothing this summer.
The El Mundo report revealed the 33-year-old to be the highest-paid sportsman of all time – with him coining in an eye-watering £123million a year salary.
This is added to a £102m renewal fee and a loyalty bonus of £69m a year for staying at the Nou Camp, as well as a £3.1m bonus for winning the Champions League.
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Messi’s contract details were leaked in Spanish paper El Mundo on Sunday
Messi disputed one of the contract clauses last summer, believing he was free to walk away from the club then amid his fury at the reign of ex-president Bartomeu.
Bartomeu has already leapt to defend himself against the allegations following his own acrimonious departure from the club.
He told TV3: “It’s completely false. This is a very serious issue because it’s completely illegal to leak any professional contract to the media.
“It’s easy to make accusations but this is not a joke and it’s going to end up in court.
“Messi deserves everything he earns, be that for professional or commercial reasons. Without the pandemic, Barcelona would be more than capable of paying those numbers.”
Former vice president Mestre has also distanced himself from the scandal, telling Cadena SER: “It surprises me. It’s super confidential. It’s the first time a contract has been leaked and I don’t understand why.
“I have not spoken with Bartomeu of this subject. I have found out through the press.”
Barca CEO Grau has denied any involvement, pointing to ‘many external people’ who could have leaked the details of the deal.
It is just the latest headache for Nou Camp manager Ronald Koeman, who called on the club to sack the culprit.
He said: “What has come out is intended to damage him. Messi deserves respect.
“He has done so much for Spanish football. There are people out to hurt Barcelona and Messi.
“If it turns out to be someone on the inside then that is very bad and they should have no future at the club.”
Barcelona are now conducting their own internal investigation into the leak.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
