Sport Barcelona 'will demand outrageous £631m release clause for Messi'

20:50 23 august 2020

20:50 23 august 2020 Source: dailymail.co.uk

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Barcelona had the most celebrated youth system in the world – designed by Johan Cruyff, and bringing through the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. Now, after years of big spending, they're in troubleIn December 2012, FourFourTwo met Victor Valdes for the very first time at Barcelona’s new training ground. A month earlier, the Catalan Masia graduate had featured in an away game at Levante when, in another first, the 11 players on the pitch were products of Barça’s fabled academy. The goalkeeper was understandably extremely proud.

Barcelona are reportedly going to demand that clubs must pay Lionel Messi's £631million release clause should he hand in a transfer request.

The attacker's future at the LaLiga giants has been thrown into serious doubt after the club performed poorly on the pitch last season and have made massive personnel changes off the field.

There have been links with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner and some of Europe's elite but even if he wanted to leave the Nou Camp this summer with one year left on his deal, it could prove tricky for him to do so.

Lionel Messi cuts his holiday short to meet with Ronald Koeman TODAY

Lionel Messi has dramatically cut short his holiday in order to hold urgent talks with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman about his plans to rebuild the crisis-stricken club. Messi's future at the Nou Camp is far from certain after Barcelona were ruthlessly thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week, prompting the departure of Koeman's predecessor Quique Setien and sporting director Eric Abidal.And according to Mundo Deportivo, Messi is returning from his family holiday in the La Cerdanya area of the Pyrenees to hear Koeman's plans for himself.

a close up of a man in a blue shirt: Barcelona are reportedly going to demand clubs pay £631m release clause for Lionel Messi

© Provided by Daily Mail Barcelona are reportedly going to demand clubs pay £631m release clause for Lionel Messi a football player on a field: The attacker's future has been cast into doubt after a poor season for the club on and off pitch

a football player on a field: The attacker's future has been cast into doubt after a poor season for the club on and off pitch

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club will tell Messi that he can only leave if a club is willing to pay his monstrous £631m release clause or he will be staying put.

The asking price is simply too much for any club in world football to afford, as it would accumulate to more than triple the highest fee ever paid for a footballer by Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar in 2017.

If Barcelona were to budge on their outrageous asking price, then there are plenty of clubs exploring the option of signing the 33-year-old.

What is Lionel Messi's contract clause and how much would he cost if Barcelona sold him?

If a club really wanted to sign the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, they could simply trigger his release clause - but what is it?The speculation has been fuelled by the fact that Barca have endured a truly dismal season, one which saw the club miss out on La Liga glory before being dumped ignominiously out of the Champions League.

PSG, Inter, Juventus, Manchester United and Manchester City, managed by Messi's former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, have all reportedly thrown their hat in the ring should the Argentine become available.

Ronald Koeman holding a sign: Messi reportedly held crisis talks with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman over his future

Messi has reportedly now held talks with new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman to discuss his future after it was revealed that he was 'more out than in' at the club.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, each of the aforementioned clubs would have enough pulling power to attract Messi should he leave Spain - but his price would prove to be the massive obstacle to getting a deal done.

The attacker cut his holiday short last week to return and hold talks with Koeman, after manager Quique Setien was sacked following their embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Koeman told Messi 'your privileges in the squad are OVER'

Lionel Messi decided to hand in a transfer request after he was told 'your privileges in the squad are over' by new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman but it has not seen president Josep Bartomeu resign.The 33-year-old had been considering his future at the Nou Camp after a trophyless season ended with a humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which prompted the sacking of coach Quique Setién

Argentinian outlets reported that Messi was left furious after the fact he held a meeting with the new boss became public.

PSG, Inter, Juventus, Manchester United and Manchester City are linked with the Argentine

Koeman opened up about Messi's situation and said: 'He's still got a contract and is still a Barcelona player. At this point I need to speak to him because he is the captain.

'We need to work with him and speak with various players. We need to make some decisions but in Messi's case I hope he stays with us.

'I don't know if I have to convince Messi [to stay], whether it's that or not. He is the best player in the world and the best player in the world you want in your team, you don't want him playing against you.

'As a coach I would love to work with Messi because he wins matches. If he's at the ability and level he has always shown I'd be more than happy for him to stay.'

Lionel Messi's incredible Manchester City contract detailed as Barcelona superstar picks Pep Guardiola reunion for next move .
The Argetinine legend is desperate to leave the Nou Camp and has agreed a five-year contract with the owners of Manchester City. Record Sport understands that Messi has agreed financial terms worth €700million (currently £623m) over the course of five years in the employ of City Football Group, the Premier League club's holding company.