LIONEL MESSI could face a Fifa BAN if he tries to force an exit from Barcelona on a free transfer, according to one sports lawyer.
However, one club that may be able to pay a fee for the Barca captain is Man City, who are said to be interested in a deal worth up to £134m.
A leading sports lawyer has claimed that Lionel Messi risks receiving a ban from Fifa if he departs Barcelona without resolving his contractual dispute.
Nick De Marco QC told Sky Sports: “If it ended up anywhere, it would be most likely in the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber because Messi, being Argentinian, the FIFA rules would apply, and FIFA has its own set of laws and rules.
“So, it’s unlikely to be Spanish law or English law or Swiss law but it would be the FIFA rules that apply, and they have a commission that can determine these things.
“Ultimately, either party can then appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. That’s how these sorts of issues are normally dealt with.
“One possibility, and it’s certainly not one I’m advising anybody, is a player simply just walks out and says, ‘I’m entitled to walk out, so I’m walking out’.
“The risk with that strategy is, although FIFA will normally allow the registration to move with the player, if the club then brings a claim and succeeds, not only is the player liable to [pay] damages but also is likely to be banned under FIFA rules for a period of months and the new club signing him have a transfer embargo.
“It’s such a high-risk strategy that, unless you were sure that the player was in the right, it’s not a risk one would take.”