As per latest reports, one of the big clubs of La Liga, Barcelona, will discuss the future plans with their star forward Lionel Messi soon and will try and extend his contract. If Messi’s contract with Barcelona is extended, this will be his record ninth extension with the club till this day.

According to a report published in ESPN, the star Argentine is currently in the last phase of his contract with a couple of years remaining in the deal with the contract terminating in June 2021.

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Notably, Barcelona do have the liberty of activating an automatic extension clause which will allow Messi to play until 2022. However, Josep Maria Bartomeu, the President of Barcelona FC, is eager to keep the star footballer for an even longer duration which is why he has reportedly asked club members to approach Lionel Messi and initiate talks with him to extend the contract.

Reports moreover add that Bartomeu himself will lead the discussion with Messi’s father Jorge who also doubles up as his agent. Talks are that they are looking for another four years of Messi with Barcelona and that would see him don Barcelona kit until 2023.

Interestingly, Lionel Messi’s current contract with Barcelona has a release clause of a scarcely believable €700million, implying any other team will have to bid for a minimum of that amount to draft him into their squad while his contract is running with the club.

The Argentine star earns a reported £1.7million per week, which makes him the highest-paid football player in the history of the sport.

Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquests are both enjoying extended terms at Barcelona. Other players like Arturo Vidal and Luis Suarez have contracts expiring in 2021.