Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, has hit back at La Liga's claim that the alleged €700 million contract clause must be paid for the player to quit Barcelona in 2020.
The Argentine, 33, has been locked in a dispute with the Catalan club over whether he has permission to leave Camp Nou on a free transfer following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.
His father has been his agent for talks with Barcelona this week and, despite hopes of Messi staying for at least another season until June 2021, Jorge Messi fired a rebuttal to La Liga's president for stating the €700m contract clause is valid.