Gerard Pique has said Lionel Messi has earned the right to leave Barcelona when he feels the moment is right after it emerged the forward could walk away for free next summer, ESPN reports.

Messi has a contract at Camp Nou until 2021 but a report in El Pais on Thursday revealed there's a clause which allows him to leave at the end of each season if he so wishes. The Argentina international would just have to communicate his desire to move on before the end of May.

Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta all signed similar deals with Barca in the final years of their time at the club, too.

Pique is aware of the existence of the clause but insists he is not worried about Messi quitting Barcelona any time soon.

"I already knew Messi is able to leave for free at the end of each season," the defender told Cadena Ser. "But we all know the commitment Leo has to Barca and it doesn't worry me at all. He's earned the right to be able to choose what he does with his future after everything he's given the club.

The Barca president told ESPN FC in April that he wants to keep Messi at the club "forever" and that he plans to sit down with him and his representatives to discuss extending his deal.

Since signing his first professional contract in 2004, Messi has been handed eight renewals by the Catalan club, with his release clause rising to €700 million in the process.