BARCELONA are no closer to signing Lionel Messi up to a new contract, according to reports in Spain.
The clock is ticking on the Argentine putting pen to paper before his deal expires on June 30.
The LaLiga giants hoped to sort his future as soon as possible, allowing them to formulate a budget for the summer ahead and assure both fans and sponsors that they remain among football’s elite clubs.
Yet it has now been claimed that an official contract offer has still not landed on Messi’s desk.
And the player himself is even described as ‘undecided’ over whether to stay with Barcelona next season.
That is according to Marca, who detail a two-year deal worth £850,000-a-week being put together by the Catalans.
This is a sizeable pay cut on the astronomical deal that Messi was handed in 2017.
But the club’s financial woe amid the pandemic crisis has led to a realignment of wages with several team-mates accepting reductions.
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
Barcelona also reportedly want to make the legend a club ambassador on a ten-year, £8.5m agreement that would run even if he signs for an MLS club.
SunSport revealed earlier this month that David Beckham’s Inter Miami are confident of one day landing the striker, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City also linked.
Club president Joan Laporta is said to be optimistic that the negotiations will be completed before Messi officially becomes a free agent on Wednesday.
But that is considered increasingly unlikely with the 34-year-old still yet to make his mind up.
These reports are contrary to previous suggestions that Messi had accepted a one-year extension to play at the Camp Nou next season.
It had also been claimed that his stay would be announced on his 34th birthday – which is Thursday, June 24.
Messi is currently in Brazil for Argentina’s Copa America bid, which sees him face Bolivia on Tuesday to round off the group stage.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
