Barcelona have made a breakthrough in their attempt to secure Leo Messi's long-term future after agreeing a new five-year deal with their talisman, claims ESPN.
Messi is technically a free agent after his previous Barcelona deal expired last month and the Argentina international has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City.
Barcelona have been working hard to convince Messi to see out the remainder of his career at the club and those talks have accelerated since Argentina's Copa America triumph.
Messi's previous deal was worth more than €500m and the veteran has reportedly agreed to take a huge wage-cut in order to stay.
Barcelona are in financial turmoil and could not afford to keep Messi on his previous salary, while also needing to offload some deadwood to register their new signings.
🇦🇷 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶 (𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟱 & 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 14, 2021
🇺🇾 Enzo Francescoli (1983 & 1995)
🇦🇷 Manuel Seoane (1925 & 1927)
🇺🇾 Jose Nasazzi (1923 & 1935)
⭐ Only four players have been named the Best Player at more than one Copa America tournament pic.twitter.com/qh57202tBh
The return of Joan Laporta as president has swung things back in Barcelona's favour, as Messi looked destined to leave under his predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Messi has remarkably played a direct hand in 585 goals in 411 league appearances since the 2009/10 campaign.
