Lionel Messi accepts huge Barcelona wage cut to agree new contract and end Man City links

Lionel Messi has ended speculation about his future by agreeing to a new contract with Barcelona, according to reports. Messi has been a free agent since the start of July, but is now expected to sign a new five-year deal with Barca, having accepted the need to take a significant wage reduction.
Barcelona are in a difficult situation financially, with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating things following a period of overspending.
The Spanish giants have a whopping £1,003million (€1,173m) of debt in total and currently owe £276m (€323m) in transfer fees.
The situation is so dire that Barca president Joan Laporta has been unable to register new signings Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia and returning loanee Emerson Royal, as well as Messi.
It has previously been reported that Laporta needs to get £171m (€200m) off the club’s wage bill this summer just to continue functioning.
A new contract for Messi has therefore been a difficult thing to work out, especially considering the 34-year-old pulled in around £425m (€500m) from Barca over the previous four years.


