Lionel Messi is rumoured to be ending speculation about his future by signing an additional five-year contract with Barcelona.
This was reported by L'Esportiu and ESPN, who stated that Lionel Messi finally agreed to a half-decade contract extension with Barcelona.
Messi has reportedly received a 50 per cent pay cut to continue grazing with Blaugrana, the club he has been at since he was 13 in 2000.
News of the extension of the working ties is the culmination of negotiations between Barcelona officials and LaLiga president Javier Tebas over the past few weeks.
LaLiga did not want to give Barcelona the green light for Messi's contract extension if the Blaugrana side could not reduce the club's salary cap burden.
Barcelona's spending limit was reduced from 600 million euros to 347 million euros during the pandemic by the managers of the Spanish League's domestic competition.
Therefore, the only way that Barca can circumvent this salary cap is to ask Messi to make a pay cut while spreading his remuneration over the next five years.
Not only that, Messi will also still earn some money from the new working ties when he leaves his position as a Barcleona player in 2026 and acts as Barca's ambassador to the United States.
Messi does have plans to finish his career as a footballer in the MLS (United States League). Messi's previous contract is estimated at 500 million euros spread over four seasons until 30 June 2021.
He is expected to receive a pay cut of up to 50 per cent in order to strengthen Barcelona until the age of 39 when his new contract expires.
Barca are still trying to reduce the club's salary cap as they look to find space on the balance sheet for the arrivals of Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Emerson Royal.
One of the pillars of the first team reportedly to be released is Antoine Griezmann with Barca willing to make an exchange between the player and his old club, Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona are targeting midfielder Saul Niguez from Diego Simeone's side. Barcelona have also allowed Samuel Umtiti and Miralem Pjanic to find a new club despite the lack of movement from both until this week.
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