In seven days’ time, the Argentine will be able to walk away from the club he has represented his entire professional life.
According to Goal, Lionel Messi and Barcelona haven’t yet reached an agreement over the player’s expiring contract. Messi will officially become a free agent on July 1, 2021 – a week from today – meaning that the club will no longer receive a transfer fee should he decide to leave them for another. However, the two parties remain in talks, with the club especially optimistic that an agreement will be reached in due course.
Messi came close to leaving Barcelona last summer when disillusionment with the club’s operations led to the player officially asking to depart. Due to the expiration of a release clause, Messi remained contracted to the club and played for them last season.
Barcelona changed presidents in the meantime, with Joan Laporta returning to replace the disgraced Josep Maria Bartomeu. However, despite Laporta’s efforts, an agreement regarding the extension of Messi’s contract hasn’t yet been reached.
Goal reports that despite Laporta and Messi’s father – Jorge – remaining in constant dialogue, an official offer is yet to be tabled. Laporta has constantly talked about Messi’s contract as a priority operation in public appearances, although any conclusive update is yet to be provided in that regard.
The report also states that despite Barcelona’s dire financial situation, any potential blockages in Messi’s contract renewal are not likely to be economical in nature – the player himself not eyeing it is a priority. Rather, Messi wants assurances that the club can produce a competitive senior team on the pitch, which can help him retain the biggest trophies, including the UEFA Champions League, which Barcelona hasve’t won in seven years.
The Blaugrana have also fallen short of retaining the LaLiga title in the last two years, with both their rivals – Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid – winning one each.
