Leo Messi has informed Barça of his intention to renew his contract with the Catalan club, which expires on 30th June, as long as a series of conditions are met. According to Spanish public broadcaster TVE, the Argentine star is asking the club for changes in his economic benefits, despite having already accepted a major salary reduction willingly. In addition, Messi demands the team he leads must be competitive enough to aspire to return to winning ways in the Champions League, the major objective he has prior to hanging up his boots for good.
Leo Messi, embracing club president Joan Laporta / EFE
Meeting between Laporta and Jorge Messi
TVE's report comes just hours after another from Catalonia's TV3, who said that last week Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi, the player's father and representative, met to talk about the future of the Barça captain. According to this information, the president offered Messi a long-term contract, of 10 years' duration, with the aim of the star playing 2 more years in the FC Barcelona first team and then fulfilling his wish to play for Inter Miami, in the US Major Soccer League, together with Luis Suárez, where he would also act as Barça's ambassador.
Later, at the time when Messi considers that his sporting career is over, the Argentine would be able to switch to a non-playing role in Barça's sporting structure.
Messi, celebrating a goal with Griezmann in the match against Villarreal / EFE
Leo Messi's change of heart
Pending the results of an audit that Barça is currently carrying out to find out the true state of the club's economy, Leo Messi has already agreed to stay, with a salary reduction close to 50% of what he currently receives, although the exact figure will not be decided until the the audit is complete.
Last summer, the question of the star forward's future blew up into a storm, after Messi considered that the 3 years he had left in the elite, the period until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, would have to be spent at another club if he wanted to seriously compete for the Champions League once again. But since then, the Argentine has been convinced by Joan Laporta's new project. He feels comfortable with the president, as well as with coach Ronald Koeman and the new pearls who are emerging in the first team.
The club, also aware that the team still lacks some more players who can make the crucial difference, is working to sign a star who could complement the squad and bring it to the level that Messi expects.
Main image: Leo Messi, lifting the Copa del Rey trophy / EFE