Officially, Messi is no longer a player for Barcelona
Argentinean star Lionel Messi’s contract with Barcelona officially ended on Thursday, 1 July 2021. He became a free player who can sign and transfer to any other club in a free transfer deal.
The Catalan club is still the most interested in obtaining the signature of Messi, who was last renewed for Bersa in the summer of 2017, and renewal negotiations are still ongoing.
According to Spanish media, Messi is closer to renewing Barcelona than leaving for any other destination, if Paris has Saint-Germain of France, or if he could move to the USA.
The 33-year-old star agreed to stay with Barcelona to lower his salary to match the critical economic situation in Camp No, according to Spain’s famous “El Chiringuito” program.
President Joan La Porta succeeded in convincing the Argentine star of the past period that there was a strong athletic project inside the walls of Barcelona.
Messi will be a “new deal” for Barcelona and not a renewal of the old contract as the contract is already over.
Reports indicate that Messi will remain a player in Barcelona for an additional two years, after which he will leave, but outside continental Europe.
Messi will be the last year of his football career in the United States, and at the same time will be the ambassador of Cyprus there.
Once he retires from football, Messi returns to Barcelona but in an administrative role.
Lionel Messi started his career with the first team in Barcelona in 2004, when he made a surprise of the heavy caliber by asking the club administration to allow him to leave for free by activating a clause in his contract that would allow him to do so.
Former President Josep Maria Bartomeu, however, refused his request because of the expiration of that requirement and insisted on paying the penalty clause in his contract of €700 million ($824 million) to allow him to leave, which made the Argentinean stay.
