Lionel Messi, who recently penned a lucrative new contract with Barcelona, could comfortably earn more than €100 million every year, according to a report released by France-based Mediapart.
Journalists from European Investigation Collaborations (EIC) claimed to have seen the details of the updated contract signed by Messi on November 25.
According to the report, Messi is guaranteed around €70million a year in salary and image rights with more coming from a €63.5million signing bonus and €70million “loyalty bonus” for the period of the contract which stretches to 2021.
The mind-boggling deal, revealed as part of “Football Leaks” was to offset an approach for the Argentine from great rivals Real Madrid.
The group claimed that in June 2013, an email exchange between the player’s lawyer Inigo Juarez and his father Jorge, explained that Real were prepared to shell out the €250million release clause that Messi commanded.
