Barcelona set to announce new Lionel Messi contract as club legend puts pen to paper on bumper five-year deal
LIONEL MESSI is reportedly set to pledge his future to Barcelona as the club prepare to announce a new FIVE-YEAR deal for the Argentine superstar. The 34-year-old’s contract expired at the end of June but he has been in talks with the Catalan giants over a new deal throughout the summer. And now The Mail […]
LIONEL MESSI is reportedly set to pledge his future to Barcelona as the club prepare to announce a new FIVE-YEAR deal for the Argentine superstar.
The 34-year-old’s contract expired at the end of June but he has been in talks with the Catalan giants over a new deal throughout the summer.
And now The Mail believe there has been a breakthrough with Messi’s dad Jorge – who acts as his agent – as they close in on an official announcement.
Sport understand he has agreed a contract which will keep him at the club until 2026, with a 50 per cent reduction in his wages from his previous deal worth £425million.
The length of the deal is said to make up for the decrease in weekly earnings.
Club legend Messi has scored a remarkable 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona.
The club are waiting to announce the agreement but will have to wait until president Joan Laporta reduces the wage bill in order for them to register it with LaLiga.
Barcelona are hoping to delay 40 per cent of the wages of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto in order to pave the way for Messi.
And a mass exodus is also expected to take place at the Nou Camp as a major rebuild gets underway.
Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic and Martin Braithwaite all look to be on their way out the door.
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Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho – who cost more than £250million between them – could also be sold this summer.
Messi is currently on holiday in Ibiza with former Barca teammates Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas.
He will not return to pre-season until his new contract is signed.
And he will meet a number of new faces when he arrives back at the training ground.
Barca have already signed several big names including the likes of Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia.
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