At 0:00 on July 1, local time (6:00 on July 1, Beijing time), Messi became a free agent, but Barcelona is still confident of reaching a new contract with the superstar.
Messi's contract has expired and he has not signed a renewal agreement to extend his 20-year period of office in Camp Nou .
However, according to multiple media reports, a preliminary agreement has been in place and Barcelona is stepping up the final details to announce the renewal as soon as possible. Barcelona Chairman Laporta also said: "Please rest assured."
A source told ESPN that Barcelona is negotiating with La Liga and the tax authorities to ensure that no problems will arise in the future.
La Liga chairman Tevas recently warned Barcelona club that they will not cut spending elsewhere, and that they may not be able to sign a new contract with Messi.
Before the epidemic, Barcelona's salary was the highest in the La Liga, with more than 600 million euros per season. Barcelona needs to lower their salary to 300 million euros to meet the regulations on wages and income share.
Messi's last contract with Barcelona was signed in 2017, with revenue exceeding 500 million euros in four years, including salary, bonus and portrait rights.
Barcelona's total debt has exceeded 1 billion euros. They are no longer able to bear Messi's high salary and have to make creative offers. For example, a 10-year contract, two years in Barcelona, two years in the Major League, and six years as a club executive.
media earlier revealed that Barcelona chairman Laporta has drafted a two-year contract for Messi, and he can choose to renew it for one year.
The club also hopes that Messi can transfer to the American Major League at some point freely, and Messi will also serve as Barcelona ambassador, which is at his own choice.
Laporta once said that money is not important to Messi when it comes to renewing the contract. Messi is more interested in ensuring a competitive team around him.
Barcelona has not won the Champions League championship since 2015, and has not won the La Liga championship in the last two seasons.
Messi was 34 years old last week. He told Barcelona that he was leaving last summer but was forced to stay by Barcelona chairman Bartomeu . But over the past year, he has become increasingly inclined to stay in Barcelona.
Bartomeu, who had a bad relationship with him, had already resigned. Laporta, who had held power between 2003 and 2010, returned to Barcelona, which is an important factor.
Messi represented Argentina team in Copa America , which also led to the delay in the announcement of the new contract, although Laporta has negotiated with Messi's father and agent Jorge.
Messi scored two goals in his 4-1 win over Bolivia on Monday, becoming the most-player player in Argentina's history, with 148 appearances, surpassing Mascherano.
On Saturday, Argentina will face Ecuador in the quarter-finals of the Copa America. Messi's goal is to win his first championship trophy for the Argentine senior team, after he had lost in the Copa America final and World Cup finals .
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