Messi’s lawyers don’t see the situation with Barca clearly, says Minguella

The man who helped engineer a young Lionel Messi’s move to Barcelona believes the star’s lawyers are in over their heads.

Messi and his lawyers allegedly believe they can exploit a clause in his contract to allow him to leave Barcelona as a free agent this summer.

The Blaugrana have reportedly stated that that said option expired on June 10, but Messi and his legal team argue otherwise. They believe the coronavirus enforced break forcing the season to end in August means he has until the end of the month to activate his clause.

The dispute could end up in court despite the Argentine’s desire to leave Camp Nou on good terms with everybody.

However, Josep Maria Minguella thinks Leo’s lawyers have jumped the gun on the clause in his contract with Barca.

“They’ve jumped into the swimming pool,” said the 79-year-old as quoted on Marca. “Someone suggested to them that the delay in the season would mean the dates [of the clause expiring] would change.

Josep María Minguella, el hombre que trajo a Messi: ''Yo creo que ha precipitado la situación la manera en la que el Barça ha despedido a Luis Suárez''. #NoticiasVamos pic.twitter.com/anp0Zq1FoX

— #Vamos de Movistar+ (@vamos) August 25, 2020

“I understand that the contract remains totally in effect, that there hasn’t been any change in dates.

“With the passing of time, there is contact between the two legal teams. Right now, Messi’s legal team don’t see the situation clearly.”

Minguella also had a word of caution for Messi in taking Barcelona to court over his contract, with suggestions already floating about that he could risk a ban from FIFA.

“The interpretation of the clause stops any institution from coming in to buy a player saying that [the transfer] is free,” added Minguella.

“One day, there is the legal threat that they have to pay [anything] from one euro to 700 million. Federatively, it’s not easy.

“If there is conflict, FIFA have the ability to let the player play for his new club, but Barcelona could report the player for duplicity of contract.”