Back to the International Newsfeed

Messi leaving Barcelona looks likely, says presidential candidate Font

Presidential candidate Victor Font fears it is too late to keep Lionel Messi at Barcelona and says it is vital the captain leaves on amicable terms in the hope he may return in some capacity.

Messi dropped a bombshell last week by telling Barca he wants to leave the Catalan giants.

The mercurial forward believes a clause in his contract allowing him to leave on a free transfer has been activated, though the club and La Liga say his €700 million (£630m/$825m) release clause remains the only valid way to terminate his deal, which runs until next June.