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| Lionel Messi agrees to sign contract extension with Barcelona | Lionel Messi agrees to sign contract extension with Barcelona |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Barcelona have announced they have reached an agreement with Lionel Messi over an extension to his contract. | Barcelona have announced they have reached an agreement with Lionel Messi over an extension to his contract. |
| The Argentina forward, 26, has been in negotiations with officials for several weeks. However a statement on Barcelona's website on Friday confirmed that they have agreed terms of a new deal. | The Argentina forward, 26, has been in negotiations with officials for several weeks. However a statement on Barcelona's website on Friday confirmed that they have agreed terms of a new deal. |
| "FC Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first team player," it read. | "FC Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first team player," it read. |
| "The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days." | "The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days." |
| No details of the new contract were disclosed, but the deal follows lengthy negotiations during which it was reported that the 26-year-old wanted to surpass Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as the best-paid player in the world. | |
| According to a report on the website of Barcelona-based newspaper Sport, the new contract is worth a record 20million euros per season (£16.3million), plus further incentives, while tying Messi to the club until 2019. | |
| Securing Messi's future is a major piece of business for Barcelona as they shape up for a crucial summer. | |
| The club were hit with a one-year transfer ban for violations of the rules on signing minors earlier this year. That ban has been suspended on appeal, and Barça need to make a series of moves this summer in order to guard against the possibility that it is reinstated in full for both the winter transfer window and next summer. | |
| The news was announced on the eve of Barça's title decider against La Liga leaders Atlético Madrid, who will travel to the Nou Camp on Saturday. Barcelona need a win to take the title, with a draw enough for Atlético. | The news was announced on the eve of Barça's title decider against La Liga leaders Atlético Madrid, who will travel to the Nou Camp on Saturday. Barcelona need a win to take the title, with a draw enough for Atlético. |
| Messi has scored 28 goals in 30 league appearances to lead Barça's charge once again, and has 41 in all competitions this season. In all the Argentinian has scored 354 goals in 424 official matches for Barca, the highest scorer in the club's history. | Messi has scored 28 goals in 30 league appearances to lead Barça's charge once again, and has 41 in all competitions this season. In all the Argentinian has scored 354 goals in 424 official matches for Barca, the highest scorer in the club's history. |
| The new contract will see the 26-year-old move into a second decade with the club, having come through the ranks to make his debut during the 2004/05 season. | The new contract will see the 26-year-old move into a second decade with the club, having come through the ranks to make his debut during the 2004/05 season. |
| He has gone on to win six league titles, three Champions League crowns, two Copa del Reys, two Club World Cups and two European Super Cups. | He has gone on to win six league titles, three Champions League crowns, two Copa del Reys, two Club World Cups and two European Super Cups. |