Barcelona great Rivaldo believes Lionel Messi‘s contract leak came from inside the club.
In the view of former Blaugrana player Rivaldo, these details were leaked by someone with a certain motive.
“A leak revealed details about Messi’s contract with Barcelona this week and that’s not good and is potentially damaging for the club and player, but I think we shouldn’t get bogged down in discussing it,” Rivaldo wrote as part of his most recent Betfair column.
“We need to remember what the player has done for the club. His contribution has been superb for decades, on and off the pitch, so it isn’t fair to criticise him about any deal that he might have made for his own protection.
“Someone decided to leak this information and they clearly had a bad agenda, seeking to divide the club a bit more in a time when things are already turbulent.”
Rivaldo went on to state that he thinks Messi will depart the Camp Nou this summer.
“Messi tried to leave the club last summer and it looks increasingly likely that he’ll get his way at the end of the season,” the Brazilian added.
“Ronald Koeman has doubts about him staying at the club and even Joan Laporta, the favourite to be the next president, only has hope of keeping him instead of a commitment from the player.
“The club should make an effort to keep him if there are the financial resources to give him a long-term contract. It could include a clause about a job at the club when he ends his professional career.
“This might make him consider signing a new contract. This is just a suggestion and I don’t know exactly what Messi’s aspirations are when he stops playing football.
“But Messi will continue to be huge figure in world football and staying at Barcelona – no matter what his role – would be beneficial to the club.”
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