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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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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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