Barcelona's Lionel Messi lies on the ground during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Valladolid and Barcelona at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid, Spain,Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. [Cesar Manso/Pool via AP]
Lionel Messi has been offered a new contract that is half of his current salary but is 10 years long.
It is the latest attempt from Barcelona president Joan Laporta to keep hold of the Argentine, who had been looking set to leave at the end of the season.
Messi’s current deal expires in the summer and there has been strong interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Indeed, Pep Guardiola nearly landed the six-time Ballon d’Or winner last year only to have the door slammed shut by then-Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
But with the 58-year-old out and Laporta back at the helm, the chances of Messi staying in Catalonia increased significantly.
And according to Deportes Cuatro, an offer has been made - though it is by no means a conventional contract.
The report states that Messi will have to halve his current salary if he agrees but Barcelona are prepared to extend his terms by 10 years in a bid to cover his losses.
That does not necessarily mean that he will stay at Barcelona, with it also being stated that the superstar wants a spell in the MLS after two years when his time at the Nou Camp is done.
Messi will be 35 by then and still be under contract at Los Cules.
This is when he plans on retiring and returning to Barcelona as a life-time member of the club, similar to the type of deal Andres Iniesta has.
Deportes Cuatro also state that Messi’s father, Jorge, has been key to these talks.
As well as his dad, he is also his representative and has had face to face talks with Laporta over the financial situation at the club.
Barcelona are strapped for cash and Jorge was sympathetic to Laporta’s cause while the Spanish giants await the full outlook on their economic situation.
Messi has always maintained that no decision will be made on his future until the end of the season.
But Barcelona have taken a huge step towards securing their talisman for the foreseeable future.
Instead of waiting for retirement to figure things out, sportsmen are investing early, building businesses and shaping life beyond medals and trophies.
Sparks, who embarked on a journey without their long-serving coach Maurice Obilo, who shifted allegiance to Stanbic Aces, laboured to a 51-50 win in overtime.