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

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has claimed that a club was once ready to trigger Lionel Messi’s €400 million release clause, a revelation that has quickly caught the attention of fans.

Bartomeu, a figure many Barcelona supporters still blame for the club’s financial troubles, made the comments during a tell all interview with Spanish newspaper ABC in April 2026. While opinions on his presidency remain divided, this latest Messi story has become the talking point.

Messi release clause scare

Revisiting 2017, Bartomeu said the situation unfolded soon after Neymar’s world record move to Paris Saint Germain. According to him, Barcelona received information that another club was seriously considering activating Messi’s €400 million clause. He didn't mention which club.

That warning triggered immediate action from the club.

Bartomeu revealed that Barcelona quickly arranged a meeting with Messi and his father to secure his future and avoid any risk of losing him. The result was a new agreement that increased Messi’s release clause to €700 million, signed later that year in November.

“Messi was actually paid little”

The former president also defended the club’s decision to hand Messi a huge salary, something that has often been criticised.

Bartomeu argued that Messi’s impact justified every euro, saying the Argentine generated more value for Barcelona than he cost. He even claimed that Messi was “paid little” when you consider his commercial and sporting influence.

‼️Josep Bartomeu: “I will never understand Messi's departure, because he was willing to make the necessary financial sacrifice to stay…”

▪️I don’t understand why they let his contract run out… They should have renewed it earlier.

▪️Messi was clear about his desire to stay,… pic.twitter.com/I2EmJwfeGK

— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) April 20, 2026

BARTOMEU HABLA DEL BARÇA, CARGA CONTRA LAPORTA Y ABRE LA PUERTA A VOLVER

"Yo no arruiné al Barça. Laporta infló las pérdidas para poder librarse del aval"

"He estado en el Barça durante 12 años. Para mí ha sido un honor y, claro que volvería... pero, por favor, sin… pic.twitter.com/biQl3aRT5W

— Post United (@postunited) April 20, 2026

Debate around Messi exit returns

Bartomeu also addressed Messi’s departure in 2021, suggesting that responsibility lies with the current board.

He has been saying similar things in other interviews as well, clearly trying to defend his time at the club.

Unsurprisingly, those comments have stirred the debate again, with fans split on how they see his role in everything that happened.

But that is the thing with Messi and Barcelona. Even years later, these stories still find a way to take over the conversation.