Lionel Messi’s current deal at Spanish giants Barcelona is coming to end in two years’ time, but the La Liga champions are already planning ahead, with reports revealing the decision of the Catalonia side.
According to SportsBible report citing Mundo Deportivo, Messi will be handed a new Barcelona deal that will see him end his career at Nou Camp.
The play-maker’s current deal has a clause which allows him to move on from the club on June 30 of every season, after reaching the age of 32, a similar provision enjoyed by Blaugrana legends Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta while at the club
However, Messi, who turned 32 recently, did not exploit that provision during the just-concluded summer transfer window.
As a result, club chiefs are eager to keep him at the club, even beyond his active days.
Interestingly, club eggheads are of the opinion that the recuperating Messi still have more to offer Barcelona and are confident the Argentine will still have his magic beyond the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, at time he will be celebrating his 35th birthday anniversary.
The report further noted that club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is banking on the existing relationship he enjoys with Messi's father Jorge to seal the new deal.
At the last count, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has netted 419 times in 452 games for Barcelona, winning countless individual awards in 15 glorious years at the top level.
Interestingly, the Argentina captain, who penned his first Barcelona contract on a paper napkin, started his career with boyhood club Newell's Old Boys and had a six-year stint before switching to Barcelona in 2001.