According to Spanish law some 254 million euros, close to $330 millions would cost to get Lionel Messi away from Barcelona. The law says that if the young Argentine forward unilaterally breaks his contract with his current employer, Barcelona, he has to pay a fee of 150 million euros ($195 million) to it.

 

The figure is so high that anyone thinking of signing him may think twice before doing so. However, based on some rumors it is learnt that Madrid may possibly buy him. According to a media report published on Monday (26^th January), there are costs other than the fees to be paid to Barcelona. These include VAT and an income tax of 46 percent. Given all these figures, Messi is worth of some $390 million almost the equivalent of Barcelona's whole annual team budget.

 

If any club tries to buy Messi without having an agreement with Barcelona, the player has to pay the fees and not the club. Therefore, if Messi wants to switch over to other club he must take the fees amount from the potential new employer.

 

Messi could only avoid that payment if both clubs came to an agreement to issue a bill for the amount of the contract-cancellation fee. Such an agreement was there between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the past when Luis Figo moved to the Spanish capital. Technically, this would make the move a direct sale between clubs, for the same amount set as a penalty fee for the player.