- Barcelona posted a picture of Lionel Messi penning the new contract on Twitter
- The new deal lasts until 2021 and includes a release clause worth £626million
- Extension will see Messi earn £500,000 a week on top of an £80m signing bonus
Lionel Messi has signed a new four-year contract at Barcelona worth £500,000 a week, extending his stay at the Nou Camp until 2021.
Barcelona announced the news on Saturday morning accompanied by a picture of Messi penning the deal alongside club president Josep Bartomeu.
Messi’s contract also includes a buyout clause worth £625million as Barcelona bid to ward off other clubs interested in the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Lionel Messi was pictured signing the four-year deal with Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu
The club tweeted out the news accompanied by the message, ‘the story continues’ as they reeled off a number of statistics associated with his Barcelona career.
‘He made his debut 4,788 days ago. He has played 602 games. He has scored 523 goals. He has won 30 trophies. The story continues’, the full tweet read.
Barcelona had repeatedly insisted Messi had agreed the new contract but Saturday’s official annoucement finally puts an end to speculation surrounding his future.
Club executive Oscar Grau announced at the club’s general assembly in October that the four-year extension had been agreed while La Liga president Javier Tebas repeated the news earlier this month.
More to follow
