Former FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that the Spanish giants once feared losing football superstar Lionel Messi, prompting the club to raise his release clause from €400 million to €700 million.
Bartomeu made the disclosure while reflecting on Messi’s time at the club and the growing interest from Europe’s richest football teams during his peak years at Camp Nou.
According to the former club president, Barcelona believed several elite clubs had both the financial strength and determination to trigger Messi’s previous release clause, especially during a period when transfer fees in football were rapidly increasing.
The revelation has reignited conversations among football fans worldwide about how close Barcelona may have come to losing arguably the greatest player in the club’s history long before his eventual departure in 2021.
Messi spent more than two decades at Barcelona, rising through the club’s famous La Masia academy before becoming the face of the team for many years.
During his time at the club, the Argentine captain won numerous domestic and international trophies, including multiple UEFA Champions League titles, La Liga crowns, Ballon d’Or awards, and individual scoring records.
Bartomeu explained that Barcelona decided to significantly increase the release clause as a protective measure to discourage clubs with massive financial backing from attempting to sign the forward.
At the time, clubs backed by wealthy investors, particularly in England and France, were actively spending record amounts in the transfer market, changing the financial landscape of world football.
The football world witnessed a dramatic rise in transfer fees after several high-profile deals shattered previous records, forcing top clubs to protect their biggest stars with enormous release clauses.
Messi eventually left Barcelona in 2021 after financial difficulties and La Liga salary regulations prevented the club from renewing his contract under existing conditions.
His departure marked the end of an era for Barcelona and shocked millions of football supporters across the world, including fans across Nigeria and Africa where Messi enjoys enormous popularity.
The Argentine icon later joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer.
Football analysts say Bartomeu’s latest comments reveal how seriously Barcelona viewed the risk of losing Messi during the height of his career.
Some supporters have also revisited debates surrounding the club’s management decisions during Bartomeu’s presidency, a period that remains controversial among sections of Barcelona fans.
Despite criticism over financial management and sporting decisions, Bartomeu insisted that keeping Messi at Barcelona for as long as possible remained one of the club’s top priorities.
The revelation has sparked strong reactions online, with fans describing the €700 million release clause as one of the biggest protective measures ever placed on a football player.
Sports commentators say Messi’s influence extended far beyond football performance, with his presence also generating enormous commercial value through sponsorships, merchandise sales, and global branding opportunities.
In Nigeria, Messi remains one of the most followed footballers among young fans, with many supporters continuing to track his career even after his exit from European football.
Bartomeu’s comments provide fresh insight into the business and financial pressures facing modern football clubs.
The revelation also highlights how player transfer values dramatically changed during Messi’s era, forcing clubs to take extraordinary steps to protect world-class talents.
For football fans, the story offers a deeper understanding of how close Barcelona may have come to losing one of the sport’s greatest players years before his eventual exit.
The discussion is also important because it reflects the growing financial power of elite clubs and how modern football increasingly blends sporting ambition with business strategy.
Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club raised Lionel Messi’s release clause from €400 million to €700 million to prevent wealthy clubs from signing the Argentine superstar.
The revelation has reignited global discussions about Messi’s legendary Barcelona career, the economics of modern football, and the lengths clubs go to retain world-class players.