Lionel Messi agrees new deal

Lionel Messi has scored 507 goals in all competitions for Barcelona

BARCELONA striker Lionel Messi has agreed a contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2021.

The 30-year-old, who joined Barca aged 13, will sign the deal when he returns to training from pre-season.

“The club is very happy with the renewal and commitment of Messi, the best player in history,” said the La Liga club.

The Argentina forward has scored a club-record 507 goals in 583 matches since his competitive debut in 2004.

Messi, who is currently on honeymoon after marrying childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo, is also La Liga’s record scorer on 349 goals.

‘Marvel in his greatness’

Spanish media say the new deal contains a 300m euro (£263m) buy-out clause and comes after Messi reportedly rejected an initial offer in May.

In a statement, Barca said Messi has “led the team to an era of extraordinary success, the likes of which has never been seen in world football”.

“Leo Messi will not stop there – the Argentinian is in one of the best moments of his career and still has a lot more left to give, which is music to the ears of all Barca fans who will get to continue marvelling at his greatness for at least another four years,” the statement added.

Messi’s previous deal was scheduled to end in the summer of 2018.

The striker has been previously linked with a move to Manchester City but his new contract ties him to the 24-time La Liga winners until he is 34.

Since breaking into the first team under former Barca boss Frank Rijkaard, Messi has won eight La Liga titles, the Champions League four times and the Copa del Rey on five occasions. – bbc.com