Barcelona to take legal action after forward’s £492m contract leaked

Barcelona say they will take “appropriate legal action” against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details of forward Lionel Messi’s £492m contract.

Barcelona denied “any responsibility for the publication of this document”.

According to El Mundo, Messi’s four-year contract was worth a possible 555,237,619 euros until 30 June, 2021.

It means the 33-year-old would be receiving up to £123m a season.

Barcelona said in a statement that they “regret” its publication, adding: “FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.

“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.”

Argentina international Messi joined Barcelona at 13 but handed in a transfer request in August.

There remains uncertainty if he will remain with the club when his contract runs out in the summer.

Messi is Barcelona’s record goalscorer and has won 10 La Liga titles, the Champions League four times and the Ballon d’Or – awarded to the world’s best player – six times.

His controversial summer request to leave followed clashes with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October.

Messi, who described Bartomeu’s reign as “a disaster”, said in December: “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.”