Lionel Messi has hit out at LaLiga over the €700 million release in his current contract with Barcelona.
Earlier this week, the Spanish League released a statement, insisting that any interested club must pay the full fee for the 33-year-old.
However, in a strongly worded letter from Messi's father and agent, who held talks with Barca president Josep Bartomeu earlier this week, the player's camp claimed that the release clause is no longer applicable.
"We do not know which contract they have analysed and on what basis they concluded that it would have an applicable 'termination clause' in case the player decides to urge the unilateral termination of the same, with effect from the end of the 2019/2020 sports season," it read in part.
Messi's letter noted that "as literally stated in clause 8.2.3.6 of the contract signed between the club and the player, 'this compensation will not apply on the termination of the contract by unilateral decision, effective from the end of the season 2019/20.
"Without prejudice to the other rights that are included in the contract and that you omit, it is obvious that the compensation of €700 million, provided for in the previous clause 8.3.5.5 does not apply at all."
Messi has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City.
But the former Premier League champions are unwilling to pay above €100m for the Argentina captain.
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