Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is already playing under the terms of his new contract. The 30-year-old has reportedly agreed to a contract extension till 2021 with the Catalan giants but is yet to sign on the dotted line so far.
This has raised doubts regarding his future at the Nou Camp following Neymar’s world record move to Paris Saint-Germian, however Bartomeu believes that Messi is already playing under his new deal.
“We will take the photo with Messi’s signature, hopefully before the end of the year, but the contract has been signed by his father, who has the power of his image rights. This contract is signed until 2021 and he is already playing under it”, Bartomeu said to 8TV, as quoted by fourfourtwo.
Messi is without a doubt central to the club’s fortunes this season and has started the campaign in an impressive manner scoring eight goals in all competitions so far, including a brace against Italian giants Juventus in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The president also opened up about the contract situation of another of the club’s icons in Andres Iniesta who’s deal expires at the end of the season. The Spaniard just like Messi is yet to extend his deal, but Bartomeu expects that the signing will happen sooner rather than later.
“The agreement with Iniesta will be special, it will be different just because it is him, I won’t reveal exactly what because it is part of private negotiations, but with Ramon Sostres, we have been talking for a long time.
“Iniesta isn’t just a reference point for us, but also for the young supporters, he has earned the right to play here until he decides not to any more, Andres is critical to this club and the intention is that this extension will be an indefinite contract so that he can finish whenever he desires.”