Lionel Messi turns down £460,000-a-week after £205m release clause is triggered

Barcelona forward shuns offer from unknown Russian club

Simon Rice
Friday 28 December 2012 14:09 GMT
Comments
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Lionel Messi has just put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at Barcelona, one which includes a £205m release clause.

Despite the crazy figure written into the contract, according to a report, an unknown Russian club triggered it, and offered the world's greatest player £460,000-a-week to tempt him away.

The fee of £205m would easily have made Messi the most expensive player of all time, surpassing the £80m Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, The Sun claim Messi turned down the offer of £24m a year after tax, understood to have been made by Anzhi Makhachkala.

Messi and Barcelona were reportedly shocked that a club was willing to pay the prohibitive release clause, yet after talks with Barca president Sandro Rosell and his family the Argentine opted to remain at the Nou Camp.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in