After getting support from La Liga about Lionel Messi's contract terms, Barcelona believe the superstar would have to sit out the 2020-21 season in order to leave on a free transfer, according to Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN.
Messi has a release clause in his contract that requires payment of €700 ($843.7 million) for him to leave Barcelona.
Though the forward had a "termination clause" that allowed him to end his contract at the conclusion of each season, La Liga confirmed the deadline of June 26 had passed. Messi's side argues the deadline should be changed as the end of the season was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.