Messi signs billion-dollar Barca deal
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has put pen to paper on a new deal with Barcelona through to 2021 at Camp Nou, which includes a buyout clause equivalent to more than $1 billion.
Lionel Messi has signed a new deal to stay at Barcelona until 2021, with the LaLiga giant inserting a €700million ($1.01 billion) buyout clause into the terms that will reportedly earn him a net $875,000 per week.
The 30-year-old joined the club at the age of 13 and has gone on to break records and be recognised as arguably the best player in the world since, scoring 523 goals in 602 appearances for the club.
He has also won eight LaLiga titles and the UEFA Champions League four times.
"I'm happy to continue with the club, which is my home," Messi told Barca TV after officially signing the new deal. "My dream was to finish my career at Barca and we are moving down that path.
"The objective is to continue achieving things, fill the club’s trophy cabinet, and keep making history at Barca. We’ve been lucky enough to have won a great many things and I hope there will be more in the future."
Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu also spoke after the signing.
"It's a great contract for the best player in football history," Bartomeu said. "It fills me with pride to see him with us renewing his love for the club.
"It's a new contract that we have signed today, because although the one we signed in June was up to par with his greatness as a player, the new one is more in line with the current situation in the ever-changing world of football. The buyout clause had to be modified, and it has gone from €300 million to €700 million."
