Lionel Messi has revealed he rejected the chance to sign a contract with Barcelona that would tie him to the club for life. The Argentina international has a clause in his current deal that would allow him to walk away from the Nou Camp at the end of this season, albeit only for a team outside of Europe.
While Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer has no plans to depart the reigning La Liga champions anytime soon, the clause caused panic amongst the club’s hierarchy as they look to make sure they don’t lose their most valuable asset.
In September, reports emerged claiming Barca were ready to offer him a deal that would see him remain at the club until the end of his playing days.
Messi has previously expressed an interest in finishing his career with his childhood club Newell’s Old Boys and that would still appear to be the case.
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The five-time Balon d’Or winner says he would have no interest in signing such a long-term agreement but has indicated he would like to remain at the Catalan outfit for the foreseeable future. “It is true that Barcelona proposed a contract for life to me, but what I said was that I do not want a contract to bind me,” he said.
“I want to be fine to perform, to play and continue fighting for objectives. Being here can be for life, but not with a contract.”
Messi seems eager to stick around at the Nou Camp in the hope he could play with Neymar again, the superstar forward having called on Barcelona to re-sign him during the summer.
Barca were heavily linked with a move for the Paris Saint-Germain forward but a deal never materialised and Messi has revealed certain members of the club were against bringing Neymar back after his magnanimous exit.
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