Messi signs new deal with Barcelona until 2016

[Libri]

Messi signs new deal with Barcelona until 2016

Lionel Messi has signed a new deal with Barcelona until 2016, the club have confirmed.

The Argentina playmaker, whose contract was set to run out in 2014, becomes the best paid player at the club while his release clause has also been increased from 150 million euros to 250 million.

The 22-year-old joined Barca as a youth-team player in 2001 and has won a host of trophies with the Catalan giants, including last season's unprecedented treble.

''This Friday Leo Messi extended and improved his contract which links him to FC Barcelona,'' read a statement. The Argentinian will be azulgrana until 2016 and has, from now, a release clause of 250 million euros (£153 million). The signing of the contract took place this Friday afternoon in the club offices.

''Apart from the player and president Joan Laporta, also present were Leo Messi's brother Rodrigo, vice-presidents Rafael Yuste and Joan Boix, technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, and football director Raul Sanllehi.

''With this new contract, Leo Messi ensure he will be azulgrana for 15 years, having started his career at Barca in 2001, in the youth sectors of the club.''

The announcement had been expected and earlier coach Pep Guardiola expressed his delight at the news.

''It's an immense piece of news for the club and for the player that Messi is renewing his contract,'' said Guardiola. ''As it also was when Victor Valdes and Xavi did so. People go to football to see the best and that's what they are.

''It's a privilege for Barca to have some of the best footballers like Messi.''

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/print?i...=story&cc=5901

[Libri]

The world's most expensive "Flea".

[velik_m]

250 million euros (£153 million)

ESPN needs to update their conversion tables - 250 EUR = £225

[TDMVPDPOY]

umm get ur national team into the wc b4 talking about figures

[nkdlunch]

umm get ur national team into the wc b4 talking about figures

so true. I remember when ppl were saying this guy was the next maradona

[lefty]

so true. I remember when ppl were saying this guy was the next maradona

Messi is talented, but he is a piece of compared to Pibe De Oro

[MB20]

250 million euros buyout...

[DAF86]

so true. I remember when ppl were saying this guy was the next maradona

Maradona sucked ass in his first WC appearance (he even saw the red card in the last match Argentina played in that tournament against Brazil).

And in '86 (the year he won it all) Argentina qualified for the WC with a goal scored in the last minutes of the last qulifying match against Peru in Argentina. That '86 Argie squad in the Qualy was in an even worst position than this current team and they ended up winning the world cup. So you never know what may happen.