Barcelona and Lionel Messi are once again all over the news but not for the best reasons. Apparently, an inside source leaked the soccer star's massive deal with the club, with Spanish outlet El Mundo sharing it out in the open.
Messi signed a 4-year, 555 million euros ($673,919,105) deal with the Blaugrana back in 2017, a contract that is set to expire in June. Needless to say, this is by far the largest contract in sports history.
And, while this comes as no surprise as it's never been a secret that Lionel Messi is one of the highest-earning athletes in the world, those figures are still astonishing, even for someone as great as him.
Lionel Messi To Go To Court Over Leaked Contract
So, now, it seems like the Argentine superstar is ready to take legal actions against El Mundo in the wake of his leaked contract, which isn't going to exactly appease this scandal or make it go away any time soon:
"Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is preparing to take legal action against the newspaper El Mundo according to RAC1. They this Sunday morning leaked details of the Argentine’s lucrative contract with the Catalan club," Football España reported.
Barcelona Denies Involvement On Leaked Deal
"Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication. The club expresses its absolute support for Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history," the team said via a statement.
Even so, the timing of the publication is kind of suspicious, to say the least. For those who lack context, Messi almost forced his way out of the team in the offseason and is clear that he's eager to leave Barcelona as soon as his contract runs out. Thus, this could be a bit of a stunt to try and force him to stay with them.
Moreover, several reports claim that the club is going through a bit of a financial crisis right now. Around 74% of the team's budget goes to wages, so some people are trying to blame Messi for their current situation.
