Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to renew his Paris Saint-Germain contract, according to Guillem Balague.
Messi’s current PSG deal is set to expire next summer, which has recently led to talk of a potential return to Barcelona.
Barca President Joan Laporta has publicly expressed his willingness to bring Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain back to the Nou Camp, but it is believed Messi is instead set to remain in Paris for another year.
He is understood to have agreed a renewal which also includes the option of a further year should he wish to stay at PSG until 2025.
Balague told BBC Sport: ‘It is practically all agreed with PSG. Barcelona have not approached him or his dad to offer anything.
‘So it is not that Messi does not want to return to Barcelona. He has not been asked the question.
‘Messi is happy with it all and when back from his holidays the agreement will speed up.
‘His life in Paris is balanced, happy, everybody is enjoying it and he has a real possibility of winning the Champions League again. Plus, it will help him be a candidate again for the Ballon d’Or.’
Messi, who has spent the last 18 months at PSG, finally got his hands on the World Cup at the fifth time of asking last weekend, scoring twice in Argentina’s triumph over France.
The leading international prize was the only major honour missing from his legendary CV, meaning he can now bow out from football having won it all.
Laporta will be disappointed to hear of his PSG renewal, having opened the door for the Barca icon to come back for a second stint in Catalonia.
‘On the subject of Messi, we can’t generate expectations,’ Laporta told Barca TV. ‘Messi is a PSG player and has a contract with them.
‘He has won the World Cup and the Culés have been very happy. What I don’t want to do is generate expectations that at the moment are very difficult.
‘For us he is the best player of all time, we have had him here and I am convinced that in his heart he is a Culé and will always be linked to Barca.
‘Whether or not he comes back as a player, at the moment he is at PSG and we would very much love him to come back one day, but we’ll see.’
G.O.A.T! Lionel Messi Named BBC Sports Personality’s Of The Year 2022
Lionel Messi has been announced as the winner of the BBC’s World Sport Star of the Year, after captaining Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar.
Messi receives the prize as part of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, with the 35-year-old’s latest honour confirmed a day after Argentina’s triumph.
Argentina secured their first World Cup in 36 years by beating France 4-2 on penalties, following a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Lusail Stadium.
Messi starred throughout the tournament and scored seven goals for his side, including twice in the final.
Qatar had been billed as the final attempt for Messi to win the World Cup, a trophy which had eluded him on his previous four attempts.
The triumph saw Messi emulate fellow Argentine legend Diego Maradona in inspiring their respective sides to become world champions.
The BBC said the World Sport Star of the Year is awarded to an athlete who has ‘achieved the most notable sporting success on the world stage during the course of the year’.
Remarkably, Messi has won the award for the first time in his legendary career, which has already seen the Argentine win seven Ballon d’Or titles and score 793 goals.
Messi becomes just the fifth footballer to receive the award, which was introduced in 1960 under its previous name of Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.
Portuguese great Eusebio and Brazil’s three-time World Cup winner Pele are among the recipients, winning in 1966 and 1970 respectively.
Ronaldo was named as the winner in 2002 after leading Brazil to World Cup glory, while Cristiano Ronaldo was honoured in 2014.
Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore received the award in 2021.
Lifting the World Cup has furthered calls for Messi to be considered as the greatest footballer of all time.
The star had already lifted the Copa America with Argentina, as well as earning four Champions League and 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona.
Messi also claimed the Ligue 1 title with PSG last season.
The No.10 made further history by becoming the first player to win the World Cup Player of the Tournament twice, having previously won the award in 2014.
France’s Kylian Mbappe finished second and Croatia’s veteran midfielder Luka Modric placed third.
Source: Daily Mail
