Barcelona president Bartomeu could go to jail if Messi leaves the club (Details)
Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona could lead the outgoing Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu to jail or a heavy fine, according to reports from Spain.
The club are ready not to let go of the 33-year-old unless his £632million release clause is met and this is against the captain’s wish who wants to leave as a free agent.
Messi has threatened a legal action against the club and Bartomeu is standing in the way of the Argentine star because who could face a jail term, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balagu.
Barca will elect a new president in March 2021 after Bartomeu refused to quit following their Champions League humiliation from Bayern Munich.
And if a new leader emerges without Messi being at the Camp Nou, the soon-to-leave president will be given a hefty fine or serve a prison sentence.
“Finally if he badly sells Messi next president or season ticket holder could accuse him of mishandling assets.That could mean a huge payment from his own pocket or even prison!So he needs to fight Messi’s departure till the end,” Balagu wrote on his Twitter handle.
Messi’s contract allows him to leave the club for free at the end of the season but Barca claim he did not sign in June, and some people believe the player still have the right to become a free agent.
However, La Liga released a statement in favour of La Blaugrana stating that any club that wants to sign Messi should activate his release clause.
Manchester City are the club leading in the race to sign Messi and if they pay the massive amount in his release clause, Bartomeu will leave his seat unpunished.
Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell spent almost two years in prison after being accused of misappropriation of funds from the signing of Neymar from Santos in 2013.
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