By Daily Sports on July 23, 2019

Barcelona are set to open talks with Lionel Messi to extend the forward’s contract, sources have told ESPN FC.

Messi, 32, is in the final two years of his deal, and Barca are keen to get him to commit to Camp Nou beyond 2021. It would be the 10th contract he has signed with the Catalans since his first professional deal in 2004.

Bartomeu is aware that Messi’s main interests are not only financial and hopes to offer him the best squad possible as Barca continue to seek their first Champions League trophy since 2015.

The Barca president told ESPN FC in an interview in April he planned to offer Messi a lifetime contract at some stage even though his mandate ends in 2021. Messi last renewed in 2017, although for a while there was some uncertainty about his future as he was allowed to move into the final 12 months of his contract.

The club announced the deal in June, with Messi’s father penning the terms of the agreement before Neymar’s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain, but it wasn’t until November that Messi eventually signed the contract.

That was the ninth professional deal and the eighth contract renewal Messi signed with the club, lifting his release clause to €700 million. Messi signed his first professional deal in 2004, extending twice in 2005 and again in 2007, penning terms until 2014 with a €150m release clause. (ESPN)

•Photo shows Lionel Messi

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 23, 2019

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