- Lionel Messi’s new contract with Barcelona has finally been announced
- The Argentine has put pen to paper until 2021, with a release clause of around €700million
- Messi had been linked with Manchester City after a lengthy delay over the announcement
- READ MORE: Premier League fans think they know the real reason Lionel Messi’s staying at Barcelona
Barcelona have finally announced Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with the club, keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2021 and with a bumper new release clause.
The club’s official site has confirmed the deal, with his release clause set at a whopping €700million to frighten off potential suitors.
AS recently linked Messi with a huge transfer to Premier League giants Manchester City, but it looks like his love affair with Barcelona will continue for much of the rest of his 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.#Messi2021 pic.twitter.com/XPdIhvaqgI— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 25, 2017
Regarded as perhaps the greatest footballer of all time, Messi has been a first-team regular for Barcelona for over a decade now, scoring 523 goals in 602 appearances for Los Cules.
In that time, Messi has also won eight La Liga titles and four Champions League titles among other major honours.
Individually, the 30-year-old has also won the Ballon d’Or on five occasions, developing a notable rivalry with Real Madrid counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barca fans will be relieved to see Messi’s situation resolved at last, in what will surely go down as one of the most important moves they could make in the transfer market at the moment.