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Lionel Messi 'close to new 10-year Barcelona deal'

Lionel Messi 'close to new 10-year Barcelona deal'
© Reuters
Lionel Messi is reportedly set to stay at Barcelona as the club are preparing to offer him a new 10-year deal.

Lionel Messi is reportedly set to stay at Barcelona as the club are preparing to offer him a new 10-year deal.

The 33-year-old was desperate to leave Camp Nou last summer after requesting a transfer, but he eventually stayed after Barcelona demanded that his £625m release clause was met before any transfer could take place.

According to Catalan television network TV3, newly-elected president Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi, Lionel's father, had dinner together last week and held positive talks regarding Messi's future.

Barcelona are allegedly willing to offer the six-time Ballon d'Or winner a new 10-year contract that includes two more seasons as a player with the Spanish giants, as well as a future move to a Major League Soccer club and an executive role at Camp Nou once he retires.

Even though the Catalan club have debts totalling over £1bn, they are hopeful that they can afford to offer Messi a new deal before his current contract expires in June.

The South American scored his 26th La Liga goal of the season on Thursday evening, but Barcelona missed the chance to climb to the top of the table as they lost 2-1 at home to Granada, which leaves them two points behind Atletico Madrid at the summit.

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Written by
Oliver Thomas

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Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Barcelona on March 10, 2021
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Villarreal177642928127
6Mallorca188371821-327
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
13Celta Vigo176382528-321
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia162591424-1011


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