IN SPORT.ES
Sources close to FC Barcelona have informed SPORT that Lionel Messi's new contract does not feature any political clauses. Messi's commitment to the club goes beyond any political criteria.
Officially, Barça have said that they don't comment on players' contracts due to confidentiality agreements following El Mundo's report that Messi "would only continue at the club" in the case of a hypothetically independent Catalonia if they continue to play "in a top level European league." In concrete, El Mundo name the English, Spanish, German and French leagues.
However. sources at Barcelona have assured SPORT that Messi's new terms, which run until 2021, come complete with the player's complete commitment to the club and his contract. In the scenario mentioned by El Mundo, as marked by FIFA's legislation, Barça could have to change federations, a circumstance which would not just affect Messi but all the players.
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In Messi's case, however, the Argentine has wanted to make it clear that he will continue at Barcelona and will not leave for free, even if FIFA's rules allowed it in this hypothetical situation.