Barcelona remain convinced star player Lionel Messi will be staying at the club into next season and beyond, despite the expiry of the Argentine’s contract at the end of the 2020/21 season.
Fabrizio Romano is reporting that a new two-year contract is close to being agreed between Messi – who is now technically a free agent – and the Catalan giants.
Barcelona Move Closer to Agreeing New Lionel Messi Contract
Messi Attempted to Leave the Club Last Summer
The prospect of Lionel Messi remaining a Barcelona player at the start of the 2021/22 season seemed a distant one this time last year, when the 34-year-old felt he was entitled to leave the Nou Camp on a free transfer and choose his next club.
Messi was desperately unhappy in his surroundings at the time. Barcelona had been beaten to the La Liga title by Real Madrid, and were embarrassed by eventual European champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
However, the situation has improved a great deal in the months since. Former Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has presided over an upturn in the club’s fortunes on the pitch, despite Atletico Madrid winning the Spanish title race. Crucially, Josep Bartomeu, with whom Messi suffered a fractitous relationship, left his post as the club’s president last October.
Those factors have combined to make Messi feel settled again at the club he has represented at senior level since 2005. If reports are to be believed, he will commit his future to Koeman’s side after his involvement in the Copa America.
Messi Ready for Copa America Showpiece
Before Messi can settle his club future, he is focusing on this weekend’s Copa America final against Brazil at the iconic Maracana stadium. The Argentine has been the player of the tournament so far, scoring four goals and assisting a further five as he has led his country to the final.
If Messi can deliver once again in Sunday’s final, he will bring an end to an agonising trophy hoodoo at international level. Despite his glittering success in club football, a major trophy won with Argentina has so far proved elusive for the 34-year-old, who may never get a better opportunity to put that right than this weekend.
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