LIONEL MESSI is set to stay at Barcelona after the contract clause allowing him to leave for free expired over the weekend.
Manchester City were said to be among the clubs that were closely monitoring the 32-year-old’s situation in Spain.
Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals for Barcelona this seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
A clause in Messi’s contract would have allowed him to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
It was included as part of the four-year deal that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner signed in 2017.
But according to Sport, the clause expired on May 30.
The Argentine superstar will now stick with the Catalan club for at least one more year.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has hinted the club will offer Messi a lifetime contract.
In November, he said: “Surely it will be the wish of all parties, if he [Lionel Messi] feels strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely.
“Ultimately it is he who must decide. He has earned the right to decide when he will stop playing football.
“But he wants to finish his playing career at Barcelona.
“Over the next two or three seasons our leader will continue to be Leo Messi.
“There’s no doubt about that he is still young, still strong. He is still ambitious.
Lionel Messi will continue his career with Barcelona next season
“So Leo Messi will play with us for the next two, three, four or five years. I have no doubts about that.”
Messi joined Barcelona’s youth team from Newell’s Old Boys in 2001 and penned his first professional contract in 2005.
Since his arrival, he has guided the club to ten La Liga titles, four Champions League wins and eight Spanish Cups.
Lionel Messi snogs stunning wife Antonela but leaves fans ‘disturbed’ and worrying their KIDS took video
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
