FIFA’s Rules Give Lionel Messi Right to Leave Barcelona On Free Transfer Amid Inter, Man City & PSG Links Spanish Media Claims

World football’s governing body FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) rules state that Lionel Messi can leave Barcelona for free according to a report from the online edition of Spanish news outlet Sport.

Messi yesterday rocked the footballing world by telling Barcelona that he wants to leave the club and intends to use the clause which enables him to unilateraly terminate his contract. Barcelona responded to him and stated that the deadline to activate the clause was the end of May.

The report states that due to the existing jurisprudence of both FIFA and CAS, Barcelona are obliged to grant Messi a transfer as soon as a club request his transfer.

In short, as soon as any of Inter, Manchester United, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, all of whom have been linked with him, request the international transfer of Messi, Barcelona will have to grant it so he can play for any of them.

This step can produce a parallel movement from Messi who could write a letter in which he communicates he wants to unilaterally break away from his contract.

The economic consequences can only be determined in the event there is no agreement between the parties.

A judge would have to determine if the clause Messi is trying to invoke is valid or not or whether the player must pay all or part of his €700 million release clause as set out in the Royal Decree 1006 of the Spanish regulations.

This is however indepdent of the sports procedure where FIFA must act as explained. If Messi is to move elsewhere in Spain, Spanish rules will overule those of FIFA thus meaning he would need to pay the release clause.