The Argentine star signed a new contract with the Spanish side but only after a new buyout clause was put into place
MESSI BARCELONA / On Saturday, Barcelona President Bartomeu and Lionel Messi announced the extension of the contract of the Argentine star. The iconic player put his signature on a multi-million euro agreement that keeps the striker in Spain until 2021. Although rumors were stating that the Spanish giant was at risk of losing its best player, the reality was different. President Bartomeu had unveiled that the club and the player were already in agreement since July but the deal hasn't been announced because an important adjustment was needed.
PSG and Manchester City's economic power scared Barcelona over Messi
Last summer, Barcelona lost one of its best strikers because PSG decided to pay an enormous buyout clause to snatch Neymar Jr. The French side paid €222 million and brought the Brazilian star to Paris to shine together with the Eiffel tower. That unbelievable deal set a new transfer market era. Clubs are scared of PSG and Manchester City's potential buying power.
Lionel Messi's deal was not unveiled until last Saturday because the club wanted to increase the buyout clause of the Argentine star. The preliminary clause agreed upon last July was €300 million but Bartomeu wanted to set the bar higher. Messi's current contract includes a €700m buyout clause. By doing so, even the sheiks will not be able to pay it without breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.
Messi is, therefore, playing for Barcelona until the end of his career.