(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Lionel Messi has ensured he could become a free agent if Barcelona no longer plays in a major European league as a result of Catalan independence, Spanish media wrote. According to a report in Madrid daily El Mundo, the contract Messi signed last November includes a clause that he must remain a Barcelona player only as long as the club is playing in 'a top-level European league.
A source at Barcelona said that 'for reasons of confidentiality the club never comments on contractual relations with players. Catalonian nationalists proclaimed independence from Spain after a referendum on October 1, precipitating a crisis which is still unresolved.
The Spanish civil and football authorities have said repeatedly that Catalan secession would end the participation of the region's clubs in the Spanish League. If Catalonia becomes independent and Barcelona are booted out of La Liga and cannot persuade another major league (France, Italy, Germany or England) to give them a home, Messi could leave without having to pay his 700 million euro ($843 million) buyout clause, said El Mundo.
The newspaper said that leaving La Liga would have the same impact on the rest of the Barcelona squad, whether they have specific clauses or not, because it would represent a substantial change to the circumstances under which they signed their contracts.
Sergio Ramos could
miss two to three weeks
Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos could miss two to three weeks, Spanish media estimated, after the club said on Friday that he has a calf injury. Ramos could be out for between two and three weeks.
That could mean he would miss the second legs of a Copa Del Rey tie against Numancia and four games in La Liga, but should have time to regain match fitness before the first leg of the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain on February 14.
Ramos suffered the injury on Thursday in a training session for players who were not selected for the first leg against second-division Numancia which Real won 3-0. The injury adds to Zinedine Zidane's problems for the league game in Vigo tomorrow. The Real coach is already without another defender Dani Carvajal, suspended for a red card in El Clasico in December.
Chinese target Roma
bad boy Nainggolan
Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande are reported to be targetting troublesome AS Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, who was dropped from Serie A action this weekend in punishment for his rowdy New Year's Eve celebrations. The 29-year-old Belgian international received a hefty fine and will sit out today's game against Atalanta after posting a video of himself smoking, drinking and swearing on New Year's Eve. Gazzetta dello Sport reported Friday that Fabio Cannavaro's Guangzhou Evergrande are ready to offer 40 million euros ($46 million) to bring the talented midfielder to the Chinese Super League.
The Belgian has in the past rejected moves away from the Italian capital to clubs including Chelsea and Juventus. Roma are said to want at least 50 million euros for the player who has become one of the best central midfielders in Italy since his move from Cagliari.
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