First it was all negative: Lionel Messi has asked to leave Barcelona. Then he decided to stay until the end of the contract. Then Joan Laporta became the president of the club. Then Messi changed his mind. Then Laporta said he will sign a contract extension. But, it didn’t happen (yet) and June 30th is just hours away. And while there are no indication that something bad will happen, he still hasn’t signed, and since Argentina qualified for the Copa America quarter finals, he won’t be coming back to Spain soon. Laporta on Barca’s finances: ‘This is worse than I expected’Everybody wants to sign Messi to a two year deal before June 30th at midnight, because after that, he could be gone without a cent. Various reports suggested that the deal was made and that it should be announced soon. The first appropriate date was June 24th, since it was Messi’s birthday, but it didn’t happen. Next suitable date would be Tuesday June 29th, when Laporta is celebrating his birthday, but he would be just as happy for Messi to sign now, than wait one more day. Sigh of relief for Barcelona fans – Messi agreed a 1+1 dealAnd what about the deal? So far, we only know that it will be a two-year deal, but in a form of 1+1 years, since Barca are in a serious financial trouble, so this way, they can “iron out” the finances before the La Liga control court performs their regular check. Messi’s new contract would also mean that Barcelona must free up a whopping 26 billion Ksh in wages. That will be done with a number of players sale, and so far, they have not managed to sell a single player, but that will soon change after EURO 2020 is over.
