The Spanish newspaper El Mundo published an article on Sunday night that caused enormous attention around the world.
It turned out that they have come across Leo Messi's contract with FC Barcelona.
The contract, which is dated 25 November 2017, shows that the Argentine has earned no less than 555,237,619 euros since 2017 - equivalent to over SEK 5.6 billion.
This includes several types of bonuses, including a loyalty bonus of 77,929,955 euros (790 million kronor).
Can lead to dismissal
The club was quick to go out with its website and regret that the contract has become public, and threatened legal action.
And coach Ronald Koeman now says that the club plans to fire the person who leaked the contract, if that person belongs to FC Barcelona.
- We really have to try to find out how this ended up in the press.
If someone from the club leaked, the person can not remain in the club, says Koeman, according to the news agency AP, and explains that he sees this as a way of trying to harm the Argentine star:
- Messi has done a lot for this club.
We must respect him.
It seems that this was done with malicious intent in an attempt to harm him.