Lionel Messi Opts to Extend Barcelona Stay as Club President Offers Indefinite Renewal

​Lionel Messi has decided to extend his stay with Barcelona, with club president Josep Bartomeu to offer the forward an option to personally extend his contract each season.

The Argentine's current deal runs out in the summer of 2021, but he has the option to leave the side on 30 June this summer if he so desires.

This season injury has hampered his playing time, but nevertheless he has still notched 14 goals in 16 La Liga outings, as well as laying on six assists in the league, with ​Barcelona currently going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid at the top of the division, sitting three points behind their rivals.

Talk had emerged that ​Messi may choose to call time on his Camp Nou career upon the completion of his current deal, but fortunately for La Bluagrana, he has decided to remain at the club. As per ​Mundo Deportivo, he will now be offered an indefinite contract that extends his current contract year after year. 

His deal will be renewed by another year, with an added 12 months placed on indefinitely that still hold's the option to cancel every 30 June. It is a decision that will be made by the player himself, who will choose whether to continue based on his own fitness and capabilities.

Messi turns 33 this summer, and is fully aware that there will come a time when he is unable to carry on performing to a high enough standard at the club, this despite him still being the current Ballon d'Or holder. The situation is similar to former teammate Andres Iniesta, who was nearing the twilight years of his career and opted to leave Catalonia of his own will.

There is no doubt that Messi can still cut the mustard in La Liga, and indeed Europe, but the proposed deal will allow the legendary Argentine to see his career out in the manner he wishes, which will be fitting for one of the game's greatest ever players.

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