Barcelona Could Lose Out On $1.2M If Messi Misses Friendly

Jose Carlos Garcia, the promoter for FC Barcelona's friendly match with Moroccan side Raja Casablanca, recognized that if Messi does not play, Barça will lose out on €1M ($1.2M) due to a clause in the contract, according to MARCA. However, Garcia was "very optimistic" that the Argentine player would take part in the game. Garcia said, "The presence of Messi is guaranteed. I got in contract with the Catalonia side and I don't have any doubts. His injury is not severe, and the reason he did not go to Germany was only to prevent is from getting worse" (MARCA, 7/25). In Madrid, Gemma Herrero reported that sources close to the match organizers claimed that Barça "could net in the region of €2M ($2.5M) for their match against Raja Casablanca." However, just like the Hamburg match, if Messi "fails to take the pitch," the amount would be reduced significantly. All of the contracts that Barcelona has signed "include a clause stipulating" that if Messi does not play, the team forfeits part of the fee agreed (MARCA, 7/26).