Josep Maria Bartomeu reveals Lionel Messi is playing under terms of new Barcelona deal

David Cooper - Writer 15:50 15/09/2017
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  • Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says Lionel Messi is already playing under the terms of his new contract.

    Concerns have been growing that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could become a free agent when his current deal runs out next summer.

    The 30-year-old agreed to an extension in July but is still yet to put pen to paper adding to the cloud of uncertainty which hangs over the club after Neymar’s world-record transfer to Paris St Germain.

    Bartomeu, though, has moved to alley the concern over Messi’s long-term future by reiterating he will sign the 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,” Bartomeu told 8TV.

    “This contract is signed until 2021 and he is already playing under it.”

    Andres Iniesta’s future is also up in the air with the Spaniard repeatedly countering Bartomeu’s claims he’s close to agreeing a new deal.

    The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season but the Barca president is confident he will remain at Camp Nou.

    “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,” he added.

    “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.”

    Barca are away to Getafe in La Liga on Saturday after thrashing Juventus 3-0 in their midweek Champions League fixture.

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