Lionel Messi will sign a new Barcelona contract, which will see him overtake Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best-paid player.
After Marca reported on Monday, that the Argentine forward was set to see out his current deal which ends in 2018 and possibly leave Camp Nou, his reps insist negotiations are on.
However, talks are unlikely to be concluded until early 2017.
Messi’s camp say they are “in no rush” to sign a new extension, as the club president, Josep Bartomeu, seeks to tie down the futures of other key squad members.
Neymar, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano have signed improved contracts in recent months and fellow stars Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez will soon sign theirs. As with Cristiano Ronaldo’s new contract at Real Madrid, where he was the last in a line of new deals to be handed out, Messi will also be the final Barca man to receive their new deal.
His father, Jorge and lawyers, are expected to fly into Spain over Christmas and New Year to seal the deal. Messi’s basic salary is expected to top £45million per year.
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