Ex-Barca President Reveals €400m Offer for Messi

Apr 21, 2026

74 min

Apr 21, 2026 11:31

Ex-Barca president says a club was ready to pay €400m for Messi transfer

## Former President's Revelation

Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former president of FC Barcelona, has disclosed that a club was prepared to pay Lionel Messi's €400 million release clause. This revelation, made during an interview with a Spanish newspaper in April 2026, has sparked significant interest among football fans.

## The 2017 Incident

Bartomeu recounted that the situation arose shortly after Neymar's record-breaking transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Barcelona received information that another club was seriously considering activating Messi's release clause. Although Bartomeu did not specify which club it was, the potential threat prompted Barcelona to act swiftly.

## Securing Messi's Future

In response to the looming risk, Barcelona arranged a meeting with Messi and his father to negotiate a new contract. This resulted in a revised agreement that increased Messi's release clause to €700 million, which was finalized in November 2017.

## Justifying Messi's Salary

Bartomeu also defended the substantial salary paid to Messi, arguing that the Argentine star generated more revenue for the club than he cost. He claimed that, given Messi's commercial and sporting impact, the salary was justified and even suggested that Messi was "paid little" considering his contributions.

## Ongoing Debate

The former president's comments have reignited discussions about Messi's departure from Barcelona in 2021. Bartomeu suggested that the current board was responsible for Messi's exit, a stance he has maintained in other interviews. This has further fueled the ongoing debate among fans about his role in the club's history.

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