Lionel Messi has reportedly concluded contract talks with Barcelona and will stay at the club by penning a new deal until 2026 – meaning he will remain at the Nou Camp until he’s nearly 40.
The 34-year-old, whose deal expired at the end of June, has finally agreed to new terms with SPORT claiming negotiations are now finalised.
Barcelona, however, still need to reduce their wage bill so Messi’s new contract can be registered with LaLiga.
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Messi has been in direct dialogue with the club over extending his stay for months now and news that he has decided to stay will come as welcome relief to Barcelona supporters.
Due to Barcelona’s dire financial position, Messi has had to take a 50 per cent pay deduction from his previous deal, which was worth in excess of £425million over four years.
That means Messi’s earnings will be slashed by £250,000 every week on his new five-year contract.
Messi’s new deal ends months of uncertainty and will go some way to helping the club with their cost-cutting following warnings from LaLiga President Javier Tebas, who says their spending must continue to be reduced drastically before Messi can be registered.
Barcelona have continued to invest this summer despite their finances, bringing in Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia on free transfer as well as signing Emerson Royal for close to £8m.
The LaLiga giants still have to negotiate wage deferrals with some of their highest earners, with plans to ask Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto to delay 40 per cent of their salaries.
They are also looking to offload some of their fringe players, including Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic and Martin Braithwaite, with the club is still unable to register some of their new signings just under two weeks before the new season gets underway.
Expensive flops Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho have also been rumoured with exits, but reports in Spain over the weekend claimed Barcelona will only sell them if they receive an ‘irresistible’ offer.
Messi, who is currently on holiday in Ibiza and spent the the weekend there with his family and the families of Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas is still waiting for the finer details to be finalised and will not return for pre-season until the contract is signed.[Userwalls]
