Messi implored Barcelona to accept the 'exceptional circumstances'

The infamous burofax which Lionel Messi sent to Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu last year has been revealed.

The Argentine sent a document to Bartomeu on August 24, 2020, expressing his desire to active the clause in his contract which would terminate his deal and allow him to leave for free.

The letter - which was revealed by Mundo Deportivo - was sent nine days after Barcelona’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich and just one day after the Germans lifted the trophy following their triumph over PSG in the final.

Messi's letter was addressed to Bartomeu and sent to Barcelona's head offices on August 24 at 6.19pm - just nine days after their Champions League turmoil.

The burofax outlined a clause in Messi's contract that stipulated he could leave the club if he requested to do so before the end of the season.

The scheduled end of the 2019-2020 season was June 10, 2020. However, given the football hiatus due the coronavirus pandemic, this date was pushed back.

Therefore, Messi argued in his letter that the delays caused by the global pandemic meant that the clause was still valid.

The 34-year-old Argentina international cited a state of alarm and force majeure in his letter as he felt both clauses were relevant due to the pandemic.

During a state of alarm terms and obligations set out in a contract are suspended. While force majeure typically excuses one or both parties from fulfilling the obligation stipulated in their contract because of an unforeseen event out of their control.

The burofax, which was published by Mundo Deportivo, read: 'By means of the present, and in accordance with the provisions of clause 3.1. of the contract of 25 November 2017, I express to you my willingness to terminate my employment contract as a professional footballer with an effective date of 30 August 2020,' it read.

'The aforementioned clause must be interpreted in accordance with the exceptional circumstances in which the 2019-2020 football competition season has taken place, due to the State of Alarm and the force majeure situation brought about by the covid-19 pandemic.

'Due to this exception, the 2019-2020 competition season ended yesterday, without prejudice to that for our team, this completion would take place on 15 August, when we returned to Barcelona after our elimination from the Champions League on the night of 14 August.'

'In any case, within 10 days after the end of the competition, I exercise my right to terminate the contract with effect date 30 August 2020, with the consequences provided in the aforementioned provision 3.1.

'Yours sincerely, Lionel Andrés Messi.'

Messi get not receive the outcome he had intended from the letter as Barcelona disputed his claim.

He would have been forced to take the Catalans to court if he had not decided to stay on at the club instead.

Nevertheless, Messi left Barcelona this summer after the Catalan giants confirmed they were unable to reach an agreement due to economic and structural obstacles.

The news reportedly devastated Messi, who was prepared to take a 50 per cent pay deduction from his previous deal to adhere to LaLiga's financial fair play rules and stay at the club.

This would have seen Messi's earnings slashed by £250,000-a-week on the proposed new five-year contract. However, the 34-year-old was said to be happy to take the hit if it meant he was able to re-register as a Barcelona player with LaLiga.

As a result of Barcelona's decision, PSG made a move for the superstar and signed him on a two-year deal worth a staggering £35m a season.

Messi made his highly anticipated Paris St-Germain debut from the bench when the Ligue 1 club recorded a routine 2-0 win at Reims in August this year.