Lionel Messi has a clause in his Barcelona contract which would allow him to join a “non-elite” club on a free transfer, from the summer of 2020.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Blaugrana icon, who is contracted to the Camp Nou side until the end of the 2020-21 campaign, has the option to switch to a team, for example, in Qatar or Japan, for nothing.
It remains to be seen just how likely that could prove to be – and whether he will follow the paths set by Andres Iniesta and Xavi, but, reportedly, Barca would receive no transfer fee should Messi choose to go down that route.
Meanwhile, other rumours have stated the the Catalan club want to extend Messi’s current deal until at least June 2023, when the Argentine will be aged 36.