One of the greatest active footballers in the world, Lionel Messi is currently without a club as his deal with FC Barcelona expires on June 30, 2021, for the first time since July 1, 2000.
Since the summer of 2020, Barcelona have been battling to extend the contract of Lionel Messi but they have continually failed to reach a concrete agreement with the record 6 times Ballon d’Or winner.
Earlier in June 2021, reports went viral that the 34-year-old forward and Barcelona have agreed on a deal that will see him play for the Spanish giants for another two years before he would join a Major League Soccer side, Inter Miami.
Weeks later, it looked like the reports were nothing to go by as it was confirmed that the Argentine football icon and Barca have not fully agreed on all parts of the deal.
Hours before Lionel Messi became a free agent, the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta stressed that there was nothing to worry about. According to the football administrator, the negotiation between the club and the representative of the football icon is still going on smoothly.
Laporta noted that he would have loved to announce that Messi was staying at the club but it was not appropriate yet to make such an announcement.
“We want Leo to stay and he wants to stay,” he told ‘El Transistor’. “Everything is going the right way, and we’re trying to find a solution that we’re all happy with.
“It’s about ‘fair play’ now.
“I’d love to say he is staying but I can’t say that yet because we’re still working through things.”
As it stands, if Lionel Messi fails to agree on a new deal with Barcelona, he might join any club that can afford his wage bill for free. Clubs that have shown interest in the 34-year-old versatile football star are Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan, and Manchester City.
Last year, Messi told Goal exactly why he didn't leave Barcelona 🗣
— Goal (@goal) July 1, 2021
Now he's free to go where he wants… pic.twitter.com/YJPP4JhHcd
Where is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi is currently trying to help Argentina win the ongoing Copa America in Brazil. So far in the tournament, the 34-year-old football icon has proven that he still has a lot to offer. He has scored three goals and provided two assists in four games.
Also, he has used the tournament to break Javier Mascherano’s record of being the Argentine footballer with the highest number of international appearances.
So far in his international career, he has played for Argentina 148 times which is a record in the country. He has also scored 75 international goals but he is yet to help the country win a major football title despite playing in World Cup and Copa America finals a couple of times.
On Sunday, July 4 at 02:00 BST, Lionel Messi would be in action for Argentina in the ongoing Copa America. He will represent Argentina against Ecuador in the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
