BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi and Barcelona are closer to signing a new deal that would keep the Argentina star at the Spanish club through the end of his playing career.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations between club and player told The Associated Press on Friday that Messi was prepared to accept Barcelona’s offer of a five-year contract at 50% of his previous salary. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.
In his previous contract, signed in 2017, Messi earned a massive 138 million euros ($163 million) per season.
The person with knowledge of the negotiations did not indicate the other aspects of the contract still being worked out between the club and Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, who acts as his agent.
Barcelona as a club has officially said nothing publicly about the details of the negotiations with the soccer great.
