'MD': this is the registered fax with which Messi asked to leave Barca

In August 2020, Leo Messi asked Barcelona to break his contract. This is no secret. The footballer himself acknowledged it in an interview with 'Goal'. To convey to the board then led by Josep Maria Bartomeu that he wanted to leave, he sent a registered fax that has been published exclusively by the newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo' on its front page on 5th September.

The key is in clause 3.1 of the contract he signed in 2017. The Argentine and his representatives understood that this could continue to be effective despite the fact that it had 'expired' on 10th June - this text was sent on 24th August - due to the coronavirus pandemic. The club's response was negative and it summoned the Argentinian star to a possible lawsuit.

It was precisely because of this that the player decided not to continue in this way and remain in Barcelona. Although it was his desire to leave the team, he refused to enter into a legal dispute of such characteristics with a club he loves. A year later and with a different president, Joan Laporta, he said goodbye in tears, although he had already agreed to extend his time at the club until he practically retired.

 

September 5, 2021

Why would there have been a trial and what would have happened in it?

The summary of what happened after this registered fax is as follows: Barcelona refused to release him from his contract because it was specified in the burofax that he had to give notice before 10th June 2020. Messi explained that he did so later because the season ended precisely later due to the coronavirus crisis.

Even so, the club referred to that "10th June 2020" which is in arrears with the contract he signed in 2017, so the trial would have pitted two positions against each other. That of the Argentine would be based on the fact that this "10th June" should be altered as well as the end of the season and that of Bartomeu's board would defend that, if the text read "10th June", 10th June should remain the limit.