The Argentine attacker is away with his wife after
getting married on Friday, but will pen a fresh contract
SPECIAL REPORT
Lionel Messi will sign a new Barcelona contract when he returns from his honeymoon in the middle of this month.
The Argentine attacker, who married long-time partner Antonela
Roccuzzo in Rosario on Friday, was set to return to the Catalan capital
with his family at the weekend, but will now not be back until around
July 12.
After the wedding, Messi and Antonela changed their plans and are now
on their honeymoon with sons Thiago and Mateo on the Carribean islands
of Antigua and Barbuda.
On July 12, Barcelona's players are expected at the training ground
in Sant Joan Despi for medical examinations ahead of the club's
pre-season preparations, so Messi will be back for that.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is out of contract in 2018, but a
new agreement is all but finalised after months of negotiations between
the player, his father Jorge and the club.
Messi will put pen to paper on a fresh agreement that will take him
up until 2021 with the option of one further season and the deal should
make him the world's highest-paid player with wages in excess of €22m
per year after tax.
After playing at the World Cup, the Copa America and the Copa America
Centenario in the last three summers, Messi has had a rare break this
time and will therefore return to training along with the rest of his
team-mates to prepare for a new season which kicks off with a Spanish
Supercopa series against Real Madrid in August.
Messi's and Antonela's wedding was a big Barca affair as team-mates
past and present were invited to the party in Rosario, with Carles
Puyol, Xavi, Dani Alves, Samuel Eto'o, Gerard Pique, Neymar and Luis
Suarez all in attendance.
The Argentine made his Barca debut in 2004 and has won 30 trophies
during his time at the Catalan club, scoring more than 500 goals. This
new contract could see him retire at Camp Nou.
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