Sports
Lionel Messi signs new deal with Barcelona until 2021
Lionel Messi has signed a new deal with Barcelona.
The contract will keep him at the club until 2021 and ends speculation over his future.
The Argentinian star’s contract was due to expire next summer but he has now agreed to extend his spell at the Catalan giants.
And Messi’s new release clause has been set at a stunning €700million (£626m).
His new deal will take his stay at the club to 21 years after Messi joined the club as a 13 year old in 2000.
He has gone on to establish himself as among the greatest players to ever play the game.
The 30-year-old has won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, five Copa del Reys, seven Spanish Super Cups, three European Cups and three Club World Cups.
He has won the Ballon d’or on five occasions and on Friday was presented with his fourth Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer last season.
Messi has scored 523 goals in 602 games and is both Barcelona and La Liga’s all-time top scorer.