Barcelona hope to finally tie Lionel Messi to a new deal in the next ‘ten days’ after their talisman returns to the club for pre – season training.
The Argentine international is currently a free agent after his contract with the Catalan giants expired while he was away on international duty at the Copa America.
Lionel Messi will soon sign a new deal in Barcelona / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
While the sudden availability of one of the game’s greatest players ever would naturally warn the attention of all the major clubs in the world, Barça have remained steadfast in their belief that Messi would eventually put the pen to paper for a new deal – despite insisting on leaving the club just 12 months ago.
Talks between the two parties have been going on behind the scenes for some time, and while an agreement has taken longer than the club had hoped, Sport claims that the La Liga giants are fully convinced that the situation will be resolved within a few days after Messi returns to the club. on August 2nd.
It is understood that Messi’s new contract will see him stay at the Camp Nou for the rest of his career, where the recently crowned Copa America winner reportedly takes a 50% pay cut to continue representing the club he played for since his childhood.
During the unveiling of the new signing of Memphis Depay, club president Joan Laporta referred to Messi’s contract situation and admitted that he did not want to rush negations and risk jeopardizing the deal – but it is understood that only the finer details remain to be sorted.
Lionel Messi is expected to extend his stay in Barcelona / David Ramos / Getty Images
With the end of Messi’s contract talks looming on the horizon, the club can now focus its attention on trimming its eye-watering payroll costs.
A number of departures are expected from Camp Nou this summer – where Barcelona are currently unable to register any of their new arrivals who have already exceeded La Liga’s salary cap – and some star names including Antoine Griezmann, Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic and Martin Braithwaite are all reportedly available for sale.
