The Spanish football ruling body, the la liga, has said Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, remains the club’s player as his contract with the Catalans remain valid amid interest for the 33 year old by Manchester City.
The la liga made the announcement after the Argentine said he wants to leave Nou Camp and after he failed to attend a pre season medical on Sunday.
The Spanish football ruling body corroborated the views of Barcelona who had insisted that if Messi wants to be released by the club, he has to trigger a 700 million euros (833 million dollars) release clause.
“In compliance with the applicable rule, La Liga will not approve a request to be de-registered as a player with the Spanish football federation, unless the amount in the release clause has been paid,” La Liga said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Messi didn’t attend a medical with Barcelona on Sunday, a Barca club source confirmed.
Reuters footage showed Barcelona players arriving for coronavirus tests on Sunday morning and Messi did not appear.
The six-times Ballon d’ Or winner had been due at Barcelona’s training ground at 10.15 am local time.
Messi informed the Catalan club last Tuesday he wished to leave immediately.
The request plunged Barca into new turmoil less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 UEFA 2019/20 Champions League last-8 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Messi’s lawyers plan to invoke a clause in his four-year contract, signed in 2017.
It would have allowed Messi to leave Barcelona for free if he had requested it by June 10.
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