€700m release clause not valid, Jorge Messi says

Jorge Messi, the father and agent of Lionel Messi, published a response to La Liga on Friday, insisting the Barcelona striker's 700-million-euro release clause no longer applies.

La Liga released a statement on Sunday saying Messi's contract was still valid, days after his shock announcement that he wanted to leave the club and hours after he failed to attend a pre-season medical.

The ruling body said the only way a club can sign the forward is if he triggers a release clause of 700 million euros but Jorge Messi's letter to La Liga president Javier Tebas states that clause is no longer applicable.

But lawyers of Cuatrecasas, a law firm that represents Messi and that until recently worked with Barcelona, and Messi senior consider that LaLiga has made "an obvious mistake".

"We do not know which contract they have analysed and on what basis they have concluded it would have an applicable 'termination clause' in the event that the player decides to unilaterally revoke the contract after the conclusion of the 2019-20 season," Jorge Messi wrote in a letter published on social media.

"This is due to an obvious error on your part... This compensation will not apply when the termination of the contract by unilateral decision of the player takes effect from the end of the 2019-20 sports season'," he added referring to the clause in the contract.

"It is obvious that the compensation of 700 million euros, provided for in the previous clause... does not apply at all."

After the initial bombshell burofax from Messi to club stating his intention to unilaterally break his contract and leave for free, indications from Catalonia were that the player was beginning to reconsider his position, given that the club had decided to play tough and were arguing the player could only leave if his €700 million buy-out clause was paid.

But Jorge Messi's bullish response indicates his son remains committed to leaving Barca this summer.