Barcelona will take legal action after Lionel Messi's contract was leaked, with the four year deal reportedly worth almost a billion dollars.
Lionel Messi Photo: Daisuke Nakashima
The club will file action against Spanish newspaper El Mundo, who published the contract.
According to the newspaper Messi was paid an eye watering four-year deal worth $932 million.
The contracted period ends on the 30th June and Messi has been linked with a move to Manchester City and Paris St-Germain
Barcelona say they will take "appropriate legal action" against the Spanish newspaper El Mundo for publishing the details.
The report said the contract, which was previously described by French newspaper L'Equipe as the most lucrative in football, had contributed to the club's recent financial troubles, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barca's last accounts showed their net debt had doubled to $824 million, while the club's interim president Carles Tusquets said recently they had been forced to delay payments to players.
Barcelona denied any responsibility for the publication of the contract in a statement, adding they regretted its release as it was a "private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties".
The statement added: "FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history."
Messi, who joined Barca in 2000 aged 13 and made his debut in 2004, is the club's all-time scorer with 650 goals and has also provided 280 assists in 755 appearances for the Catalans.
He is also their captain and most decorated player with 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues plus six Copa del Rey triumphs.
The Argentinian tried to leave Barca last August via a release clause in his contract but eventually decided to stay in order to avoid a court case with the club.
He can move to any club for free from June but has not ruled out staying at Barca, saying in a December interview that he will make his decision at the end of the season.
-RNZ/Reuters