The contract would make Messi the best paid athlete in sports activities historical past.
The membership additionally stated it would take authorized motion in opposition to the newspaper “for any harm which may be brought on on account of this publication.”
In line with the report, Messi’s contract, which was signed in November 2017 and runs till June 30 this yr, might have seen the star ahead earn $167 million a season together with bonuses. The written settlement additionally reportedly contains a picture rights contract.
El Mundo additionally experiences that Messi acquired a “renewal price” of $139 million for accepting the contract and a $94 million loyalty bonus.
“FC Barcelona categorically denies any duty for the publication of this doc and can take applicable authorized motion in opposition to the newspaper El Mundo, for any harm which may be brought on on account of this publication.
“FC Barcelona expresses its absolute assist for Lionel Messi, particularly within the face of any try and discredit his picture, and to wreck his relationship with the entity the place he has labored to change into the perfect participant on the earth and in soccer historical past.”
CNN has contacted El Mundo in relation to Barcelona’s assertion however is but to obtain a response.
In its publishing of the story, El Mundo stated the evaluation of the doc was a laborious course of carried out in current days.
Messi has but to publicly reply to El Mundo’s story and did not instantly reply to CNN’s request for remark.
In the meantime, Messi scored his 650th objective for Barcelona on Sunday in a 2-1 win in opposition to Athletic Bilbao.
His first-half free-kick and Antoine Griezmann’s second-half winner noticed Barcelona, now unbeaten in La Liga since December 5, transfer second in La Liga forward of rival Actual Madrid.