Mess in talks with Barcelona: A new contract to 2023 without a raise

Barcelona and Lionel Messi have started contract renewal talks, as the deadline for the Argentinian superstar to confirm whether he wants to continue or leave the club was passed in early June.

Talks are being held between Barca's president, Josep Maria Bartholomew, and football player's father, Jorge Messi. The parties have agreed to the main terms of the contract, according to Spanish media, broadcast newspaper Express.

The current contract ends in the summer of 2021.

The Catalonian club has proposed that Mess last the contract for two years, which he has agreed to. This means that Messy will be Barca's player by the summer of 2023.

But, as in previous agreements, Messi will have the opportunity to break the contract at the end of each season.

This condition is non-negotiable for Mess, because he does not want to have his hands tied by a contract and wants to be able to decide at the end of any season whether he is physically willing or not to continue football at the highest level.

The salary will be the same

The Messi salary will not increase with the new contract, and both sides have agreed to it, taking into account the economic impact on football caused by the coronary pandemic.

It is believed that Messi earns 565,000 euros a week, or about 26m euros a year in the current contract with Barça.