Lionel Messi, who won 35 championships in 17 years with Barcelona, is allegedly close to agreeing to a two-year contract extension.
Lionel Messi contract with Barcelona ends on Wednesday, and neither the player nor the club have provided any information regarding his future plans.
Messi, who is now representing Argentina in the Copa America, is expected to continue with the Catalan club. He was allegedly on the verge of extending his contract for another two years.
Since his wish to leave the club at the end of the 2019-2020 season was refused, Messi’s future has remained a mystery. He ultimately decided to stay and stated that after the season was done, he would reassess his choices.
Since announcing his desire to quit the club, a lot has happened. That decision was taken not long after the team’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich, one of the club’s worst losses ever.
However, with the dismissal of Josep Bartomeu, who was at differences with Messi, Barcelona has a new coach in Ronald Koeman and a new president in Luis Enrique.
In walked Joan Laporta, who had won the club’s presidency election in part due to his friendship with Argentina’s top player. When Messi’s career began, he was the president. Laporta recently expressed optimism that Messi’s contract will be renewed. On Wednesday, when questioned about Messi’s future, he simply responded, “Don’t worry.”
Despite remaining against his desires, Messi succeeded once again this season. With 30 goals, he topped the Spanish league in scoring and helped his club win the Copa del Rey.
Messi allegedly earned 138 million euros ($164 million) each season on his last contract, which he signed in 2017.
The fact that Barcelona has been progressively improving financially despite the coronavirus epidemic is working in their favor to keep Messi. Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, and Eric Garcia are among the newcomers to the team, which will be led by Koeman for a second season.
In 17 seasons with Barcelona, Messi has won 35 titles. He was instrumental in the club’s four Champions League titles, ten Spanish league titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and eight Spanish Super Cup titles.
Messi won a record six Ballon d’Or honors during his time at Barcelona. With 672 goals in 778 appearances, he is the team’s all-time greatest scorer, as well as the Spanish league’s best scorer with 474 goals in 520 games. He’s also the player with the most appearances for the club.
In eight seasons, he was the best scorer in the Spanish league, and in six seasons, he was the top scorer in the Champions League. His 26 goals in “clasico” meetings against Barcelona’s biggest opponent are a record for the “clasico” contests.
Messi and his family moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 to try their luck at the club’s youth program. He made his official debut on October 16, 2004, and two years later, on a team managed by Ronaldinho, he helped the club win its first Champions League.
Source: Al Jazeera | Messi contract with Barcelona ends.
