Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona football club are set to keep their talisman, Lionel Messi, at the club until 2023 with the new contract on the table for the 32-year-old Argentine.
Based on the contract he signed with the club in 2017, Messi ought to have left on a free transfer on June 10 this year but he allowed the clause that permits him to do so to expire.
Though his current contract will expire in 2021, Messi is not in a hurry to extend his stay at the club and he is not willing to use the exit door. A Spanish media, Mundo Deportivo, reported that Barcelona is waiting for Messi’s father, Jorge, to arrive in Spain before the club can finalise the negotiations with the player.
His father can not leave Argentina to Spain until the inter-country travel restrictions across most countries in Europe including Spain, are lifted. Recall that most countries have been on lockdown in order to contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.
According to reports, it has been the pandemic that has been delaying Lionel Messi from signing the new contract since he can’t do it without his father taking a look at the terms and conditions attached to the contract.
Futballnews gathered that one of the most important clauses in the new contract is that Lionel Messi will be given the liberty to terminate the contract one year to the expiration of the deal. It was also gathered that all formal negotiations have been put on hold until Messi’s father show up to have one-on-one negotiations with the club.
Besides the need to have Jorge on ground, the priority of Lionel Messi and everyone at Barcelona at this point is to win this season’s Spanish La Liga title as they are leading their old-time rival, Real Madrid, with just two points. Any little slip, the hope of doing so is gone.
As always, Lionel Messi has been very instrumental for the club’s progress this season. This season alone the 32-year-old Argentine football icon has scored 26 goals and made 18 assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.
In his current contract with Barcelona, Messi reportedly earns £500,000 ($610k/€565k) every week, a £164, 000 increment from his initial deal. Hence, this proposed contract is expected to be an improvement on what he currently earns.
