In case you didn’t know…
Messi has a clause in his contract with the LaLiga club that allows him to part ways with them as and when he desires. His current contract expires in the summer of 2021, by which time he will be 34 years old and would’ve completed two decades with the Catalans.
Former captain Andrés Iniesta put pen to paper to a similar lifetime contract in 2017, but he then went out to play for Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
The heart of the matter
In a recent interview with Associated Press, Barca president Bartemou discussed about the future of the club in a post-Messi era. He reiterated that the Argentine remains the key figure at the club for at least the next two to three seasons, saying:
Bartemou also went ahead and compared the current club captain to the legendary Pele, highlighting that the Brazilian was a one-club man and how Messi could also end up being like the former. He continued:
Luckily for the Spanish club, Messi recently made a U-turn of sorts by claiming that he might not move back to his boyhood club Newell’s as he is well settled in Spain now. That said, it should be noted that the player had earlier stressed he doesn’t want to be bound by a lifetime contract.
What’s next?
Barcelona still remain heavily dependent on the Argentine for results. It remains to be seen how far he can carry them this season, after disappointment in the UEFA Champions League last term.
After winning The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, Messi remains the top contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or as well, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk.
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