The reasons for Barcelona’s failure to extend Lionel Messi’s contract have finally been revealed, with a report revealing the incredible nine demands he made of the LaLiga giants during negotiations.
Amazingly, the report asserts that Josep Bartomeu, then-president of Barcelona, granted Messi’s requests in all but two cases.
However, their refusal to accept the rejection of a signing bonus (point 3), along with their choice to keep his release clause in place (point 5), appeared to be sufficient grounds for the negotiations to fail.
Since there was no common ground, discussions dragged on for weeks and months.
As a result, the star joined PSG the following summer and left on a free transfer.
Lionel Messi and his nine Barcelona demands
- Three-year extension. The then 33-year-old wanted a deal to keep him at Nou Camp until 2026, which was likely the most reasonable of all his demands. The request for three more years was not thought to be unreasonable given his standing as one of, if not the best, players in the world.
- A private box for his family and Luis Suarez at the Nou Camp.
- €10m reneweal bonus.
- Commission to his brother. As part of any contract negotiations, Messi wanted his brother Rodrigo to collect a bonus as part of his renewal.
- Renoval of release clause. Messi’s previous deal had a release clause in it set at €700m.
- Repayment of wages cut with added interest.
- Protection against Spanish tax rises.
- His own private jet. Messi desired to have a personal aircraft on hand so that he and his family could fly back for Christmas.
- Job security for his personal assistant.
