Lionel Messi is reportedly in no rush – nor should there be any reason for him to be – to commit his future to Barcelona as he waits for updates on his former strike partner Neymar and Argentina teammate Sergio Aguero’s transfer pursuits whilst focusing on winning the LaLiga to complete a Spanish double after leading Barca to lift the Copa del Ray trophy.
Lionel Messi was one of the biggest stories last summer as his future at Camp Nou is still far from being in the wraps. After initially communicating his intention to leave at the end of last season, Messi finally agreed to stay put at the Nou Camp for another year to avoid legal complications.
The removal of former incumbent, Josep Maria Bartomeu, as president, recently replaced by Joan Laporta, has changed things significantly for Messi although the Argentinian superstar is still out of contract this summer and is now known to be exercising restraint and patience before committing to any decisions regarding his future.
Barcelona are believed to be preparing a new three-year contract offer for Messi but the diminutive megastar and Barcelona talisman is, however, happy to take a step back and is apparently in no rush to put pen to paper, according to Marca.
His father and agent, Jorge Messi, was in Barcelona earlier this month and returned to Argentina last week. They had dinner with incumbent President Laporta, who again reaffirmed Messi that he would do all he could to convince him to stay. But of course.
A formal meeting to discuss a renewal could be on the cards with claims Barcelona will submit an offer but will definitely be unable to match his current salary due to their deplorable financial situation. The Catalan club are awaiting an audit which will determine how much they can actually offer, whilst Messi himself is definitely in no hurry to put his much-coveted signature on the dotted line.
It is claimed Messi’s plan is to continue focusing on his football, targeting a LaLiga title win to complete a double after lifting the Copa del Rey.
Additionally he’s being patient to allow Laporta to prove himself with concrete actions rather than mere hollow promises, having been burnt in the past after experiencing a tumultuous, rocky relationship with Bartomeu that ended in numerous broken promises.
As a result, he is keen to see how Laporta delivers what he promises before committing himself to the club.
Not altogether at a tangent to this, it has also been widely reported that Messi would love to welcome Neymar back to Camp Nou, and is said to be anxious to know whether or not that move will be possible before making his final decision.
Understandably the signing would be complicated because of Paris Saint-Germain, but Messi knows Laporta would be anxiously working behind the scenes to scramble the best game plan to keep his talisman happy.
Messi is also keen to know if Sergio Aguero, his close buudy and international team-mate, will be joining him in Spain after officially leaving Manchester City on a free transfer.
Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia
