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Sensational report uncovers Messi's €100M per year contract, failed Madrid bid

David Ramos / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Football Leaks strikes again.

The famous whistleblower website that exposed Gareth Bale's contract and other high-profile transactions teamed up with German newspaper Der Spiegel and other outlets across the globe to lay bare details of Lionel Messi's new contract.

Calling the deal "unprecedented" in scale, Der Spiegel said Messi is guaranteed to earn more than €100 million per season at Barcelona.

The report also revealed the controversial settlement he reached with Spanish tax authorities, as well as Real Madrid's ambitious attempt to sign Messi in 2013.

Der Spiegel learned the following details from a treasure trove of emails, legal documents, contracts, and bank statements:

  • Messi's father Jorge, on behalf of his son, signed the new contract on June 30, the same day as Lionel's wedding. However, his father renegotiated aspects of the contract over the next few months as the transfer market changed.
  • Barcelona originally intended to insert a €300-million release clause into Messi's new contract, but Neymar's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain forced the Catalan side to raise that figure to a more unreachable €700 million.
  • Messi will collect €106,347,115 per year, including money earned from bonuses. That accounts for 40 percent of the team's payroll.

Messi's tax scandal is also covered by Der Spiegel:

  • During Messi's trial, auditors discovered millions of euros in transfers from Barcelona to Messi's father and foundation. Investigators believed the payments were salary-related, not donations, and therefore subject to income tax.
  • A "renowned" lawyer retained by Barcelona said there was good chance Spanish tax authorities would determine the transfers to be unlawful. Barcelona, however, maintained that all money was meant for charitable purposes.
  • Messi ended up paying €12 million in back taxes to avoid criminal proceedings. Barcelona loaned the money to Messi with a "special premium," thinking it would help convince the player to renew his contract.

And finally, the story behind Madrid's shocking bid:

  • Madrid approached Messi's family lawyer in June 2013 to express interest in activating his €250-million release clause, according to emails.
  • The deal on the table was an eight-year contract worth €23.125 million each season.
  • The capital club also told Messi's family lawyer that it would "exert pressure" on Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to reach an "advantageous" solution over Messi's tax charges.
  • Messi ultimately received a pay raise from Barcelona in May 2014, with Der Spiegel suggesting his father used Madrid as leverage. Madrid said the account is "totally false."

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