Ok little thread on Messi...

1. Bartomeau sacked Barcelona’s outsourced legal team because they advised Messi on his legal exit strategy

2. Several media sources have got their hands (via Messi camp) on his contract and have verified there is no release clause for 20/21 season

3. Man City have seen his contract and their in-house legal team are fully aware that there is no release clause, however the only contested point is the date to deactivate his contract - this has to be settled in court.

4. City knowing this have prepped and worked on budget

5. City have also prepped the work that is done for a new signing.. why? Because they know the trajectory this is heading towards.

6. Not a single news outlet, that has seen Messi’s contract, has said the release clause is still active. Only La Liga have sided with Barca on this

7. La Liga did the same during Neymar and tried to contest a legally binding activation of his release clause. That didn’t work.

8. Tebas’ La Liga is a highly politicised organisation and know that the loss of Messi, with the Premier League strengthening, would be catastrophic

9. To sum up, there is no release clause. The absolute MAX leverage that Barca have is that he is under contract with 1 year left, and refuse to negotiate with anyone.

10. Barca are bluffing for PR reasons, in telling Messi to sit his contract out without pay. No chance.

11. To not sell a player before their final year has not only a financial loss implication, but it also carries legal

12. This is because there is a mechanism with FIFA in place to acquire ITC# and leave - allowing a player to continue playing whilst a legal dispute is completed

13. Messi is trying to get the club some money by reaching out and discussing an exit, but Bartomeau is refusing for various reasons, mainly saving his own ass.

14. Leo’s lawyers making it clear that they can go for free is probably somewhat true because they wrote the contract!

15. However this is being used as a threat to Bartomeau, so that he cools his shit and comes to the table to allow Messi to exit amicably and with a nice fee to help rebuild Barca.

16. Barca refusing to talk but only if around extensions are all hallmarks of pressure tactics

FINAL: Messi will get his move this window away from Barcelona to Man City - 100%.

City know this and are/have prepared.

Barcelona will make it hard for him but know they’re going to concede soon. It’s inevitable.

Obviously it’s probably 99%, with the 1% being that Messi changes his mind and decides to stay 1 more year.

Even this I doubt because Messi has 2 may be 3 solid hrs left in him at European level + a Copa America (21) and World Cup (22) which he wants to win with help from Pep.

Personally, I do think Messi will get his move whether it’s via an agreed fee or forces it but needs to be settled in court.

Time is not on Messi’s side and he won’t let Bartomeau burn a full year of his at a withered Barcelona club.