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Messi: Barcelona president tells businessmen Lionel Messi has signed THREE contracts
LIONEL MESSI has signed THREE contracts at Barcelona and will not be leaving in the summer.
Lionel Messi makes 600th appearance for Barcelona
That is according to a report in Spain today, which claims to have insider knowledge on a speech given by Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu regarding Lionel Messi’s future.
Messi is understood to be out of contract next summer and can begin talks over a free transfer to another club from January.
Barcelona are worried they could lose their star player to one of the world’s richest clubs.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain would likely break the bank to sign the 30-year-old if they get a whiff of his availability.
But Barcelona-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim president Bartomeu has moved to dampen fears the Argentine could be off.
Lionel Messi has reportedly signed three contracts at Barcelona
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi (left) would attract Man City and PSG if he were available
The report claims Bartomeu was at a gala for Catalonian business leaders - 39 men and one woman - last night when he was quizzed about Messi.
He was asked to respond to comments made by singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat in the newspaper El Pais that Messi could arrange a free transfer this winter.
Mundo Deportivo report that Bartomeu assured his audience that Messi has already signed THREE contracts at the club and that there was no chance he will leave.
It is claimed Messi is now tied down until 2021, even though there is yet to be a confirmation from Barcelona or the player’s camp regarding the contracts.
Argentina's Lionel Messi produces incredible finish against Ecuador
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu (right) insists Lionel Messi will stay at the club
Barcelona have insisted since the summer that Messi has agreed to sign fresh terms but they are yet to make the announcement official, leading to speculation over his future.
Messi intends to remain in football until at least the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, meaning Barca will have to negotiate more deals in the future if they are not to lose him further down the line.
As for Bartomeu, he is said to have phoned musician Serrat to assure the Barcelona fan over Messi’s situation.
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