Messi’s future is unknown as Barcelona’s contract expires | Football Stories

Lionel Messi, who has won 35 trophies in 17 years at Barcelona, ​​says he is close to reaching an agreement to extend his two-year contract.

Lionel Messi’s contract with Barcelona ended Wednesday without any news from a player or club about his future.

The hope is that 34-year-old Messi, who plays for Argentina in the Copa America, has joined the Catalan club. He was about to complete a contract extension for another two years.

Messi’s future has been a mystery since his club resignation was rejected at the end of the 2019-2020 season. He ended up sitting down and thinking about what he would choose after this season.

Much has changed since he announced his intention to leave the club. The decision was made shortly after the humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, one of the biggest defeat in the history of the club.

But since then, Barcelona have a new coach at Ronald Koeman and a new president after the resignation of Josep Bartomeu, who was a rival to Messi.

He was joined by Joan Laporta, who won the presidential election because of her good relationship with the Argentine star. He was president when Messi’s career began. Laporta said he soon expects Messi to renew his contract. When asked about Messi’s future on Wednesday, he briefly said “don’t worry”.

Messi won again this season although he did not do what he wanted. He led the Spanish league by scoring 30 goals and helping the team win the Copa del Rey title.

In Messi’s previous contract, signed in 2017, he reportedly received 138 million euros ($ 164m) a year.

Playing in favor of Barcelona to keep Messi is that the club has been undergoing a gradual economic transformation amid the coronavirus epidemic. Koeman is also in his second season, and other players are coming to strengthen the team, including Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia.

Messi has won 35 trophies in 17 seasons with Barcelona. He helped the club win the Champions League four times, the Spanish league 10 times, the Copa del Rey seven times and the Super Super Cup six times.

While at the club, Messi won six Ballon d’Or awards. He is always the leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 games, and the best in the Spanish league with 474 goals in 520 games. He is the player with the most games and clubs.

He was the best scorer in the Spanish league in eight seasons and the most successful player in the Champions League six times. His 26 goals against Real Madrid are scored in a “clasico” match against Barcelona’s most dangerous opponent.

Messi arrived in Barcelona at the age of 13, when he and his family came to Spain to try their luck at a youth club. He made his first appearance on October 16, 2004, and two years later helped the club win its first Champions League title under Ronaldinho.