The 700m euros (£624m) release clause in Lionel Messi's Barcelona contract is still valid, La Liga has said.

Messi, 33, informed the club on Tuesday that he wished to leave and did not attend a pre-season medical on Sunday.

The Argentina forward plans to invoke a clause that would allow him to depart the club for free but Barcelona argue the deadline for that has expired.

Spain's top-flight competition La Liga now says it will not de-register the player unless the clause is met.