Messi To Decide Barcelona Future At End Of Season
Lionel Messi has assured Barcelona fans a decision on his future at the club will not be decided before the end of the season.
Messi’s current contract with the Blaugrana expires at the end of the 2020/2021 season and he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from January.
The six-time Ballon d’or winner unsuccessfully tried to force his way out of the club in August, citing a clause in his contract that could have allowed him to leave for free but Barcelona stood firm and held onto their most prized asset.
Despite being at liberty to decide his next career move in the next few days, Messi says he is concentrating on helping Ronald Koeman’s men achieve their targets for the season before a final decision is made.
"My plan is to give all I can for the club at the moment. Nothing is decided until the end of the season. Now I only think about finishing the season and winning titles,” Messi told Spanish TV station La Sexta.
"I know there are a lot of Barca people who still love me, but I'm going to do what is best for the club and for myself. Besides, I want to live in Barcelona and be in the club in some way when I retire.
"I don't know if I'm going to leave, but if I do, I would like to leave in the best way and be able to return to the club in the future. Barcelona is much bigger than any player.
"It's a love story from a very young age with the club and the city. Either way, everything that my career has meant should not be stained [by this saga]."
