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Football Club Barcelona have threatened to sue El Mundo for publishing details of the true value of Lionel Messi.
El Mundo published the true value of Messi, revealing the Barcelona talisma contract is valued at €555 million.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the €555 million, i.e. $674 million contract equates to $167 million a year.
“FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication”.
Recall that the Argentine footballer signed a four-year agreement with the Camp Nou side in 2017 with details of the contract sketchy at the time.
However, El Mundo, a Spanish newspaper leaked the document containing details of the Argentine contract, which is due to expire in June.
According to the newspaper, the contract included fixed incomes and bonus payments which amount to €138 million (£112 million or $167m) in annual earnings.
Messi has already pocketed €510 million (£452 million or $619 million), with a further €45 million (£40 million or $55 million) set to come his way over the next six months, according to El Mundo.
Publishing the leaked contract details, the newspaper claimed the 33-year-old is the best-paid athlete in the history of professional sport.
However, the Blaugrana have denied sharing the terms of the Argentine’s current deal with the Spanish media.
In a statement published on the club’s website on Sunday, Barcelona expressed absolute support for Lionel Messi.
The club stated that any attempt to discredit his image would be resisted.
The statement reads: “In view of the information published today in the newspaper El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties.
“FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.
“FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history”.
TNG reports Messi, who is the club’s captain has been tipped to bring his 17-year career at Camp Nou to an end this summer.
Barca reportedly is unable to continue paying his lucrative wages amid mounting debts exceeding over €1.2 billion.