Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has confirmed team-mate Lionel Messi has a clause allowing him to leave the Catalan club for free at the end of any given season.
A report in El Pais on Thursday claimed the Argentine attacker is free to walk away on June 30 at the end of each campaign, even though his current contract expires in 2021.
That means the Barca captain could in theory rescind his contract next summer and leave for free, although his happiness and loyalty to the Catalan club mean such an outcome is unlikely.
"I already knew that Messi could go for free at end of each season," Pique told El Larguero. "We know the commitment Leo has with Barca and it doesn't worry me at all.
"He has earned the right to decide his future."
Pique was also asked about Neymar after the forward was linked with a return to Barca all summer, but ended up staying at Paris Saint-Germain.
"It was a long soap opera," he said. "But that's that, we have to turn over the page. Maybe the fact that the market lasts until the third round of LaLiga makes no sense."
