Lionel Messi's burofax to ex-Barcelona CEO Bartomeu publicised

Lionel Messi's notorious

burofax

has been published; he sent it to former Barcelona chairman

Josep Maria Bartomeu

last year in a bid to arrange a departure from Camp Nou. 

Messi voiced his intention to quit Barcelona immediately after their

defeat to Bayern Munich in August 2020, believing a provision in his contract could enable him to go for free even though his contract had another year remaining on it. 

Messi eventually surrendered after the Catalan side contested the allegation, but he remained only another year before transferring to PSG.

The burofax, acquired by

, is dated August 24, 2020, nine days after Barcelona was thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League and a day after Bayern claimed the title with a triumph against the Parisians. 

Messi's agreement had a condition allowing him to depart if he desired it before June 10, 2020, the end of the 2019-20 season. 

Although the deadline was plainly missed, Messi maintained that the clause was still legitimate due to the delays created by the coronavirus epidemic.

"I understand that the time frame of the right of unilateral termination without cause regulated by the aforementioned clause must be interpreted in accordance with the exceptional circumstances in which the 2019/20 football competition season has taken place, due to the state of emergency and the situation of force majeure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic," read the burofax.

"Due to these exceptional circumstances, the 2019/20 competition season ended yesterday, without prejudice to the fact that for our team, this end took place on August 15, when we returned to Barcelona after our elimination from the Champions League on the night of August 14.

"In any case, within 10 days following the end of the season of competition, and thus meeting the agreed deadline for exercising the aforementioned clause 3.1., in accordance with the material contract of our agreement, which must be interpreted in accordance with the exceptional circumstances of the 2019/20 season, I exercise my right to terminate the contract with effect from August 30, 2020, with the consequences provided for in the aforementioned stipulation 3.1."

Barcelona contested the argument, and it appeared like the matter would have to go to court until Messi withdrew and chose to stay. 

Barca thought that

Joan Laporta

's reinstatement as president, along with a player fire-sale to raise cash, would enable them to sign Messi to a new deal. 

They were able to persuade Messi to stay, but due to the club's economic limitations, they were unable to re-register him in La Liga once his contract expired in June. 

Following that, a heartbroken Messi confirmed his resignation from Barcelona a few days later before completing the spectacular transfer to Parc des Princes.

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