Lionel Messi ends speculation, will stay at Barcelona until 2021

Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi will sign a new four-year deal keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2021, the Spanish club said on Wednesday, ending speculation that the five times Ballon d’Or winner could be tempted to leave. English Premier League club Manchester City, managed by former Barca boss Pep Guardiola, were reported to have tabled a bid earlier this year for the 30-year-old, who scored 37 goals in La Liga and 11 times in the Champions League last season.

Messi’s father and agent Jorge opened negotiations with Barcelona officials last December, but their talks on the player’s eighth professional contract there progressed slowly. The player joined the Catalan giants at the age of 13, made his debut in 2004 and has been there ever since, winning 30 major honours including eight domestic league titles and four Champions League trophies.

The No.10 has notched a record 507 goals for Barca in all competitions and is La Liga’s record all-time scorer with 349 goals. Messi married childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo in their native Argentina last week and is set to put pen to paper on his new deal at Barcelona when he returns from his honeymoon later this month, the club said.

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