Barcelona set to finally resolve Lionel Messi’s contract dilemma

Thought Lionel Messi would leave Barcelona? You can think again…

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is a truly phenomenal player. You don’t need me to tell you that. He is widely dubbed as the greatest player of all time for a reason and that reason simply can’t be put into words. You just have to watch and admire.

The Barcelona fans idolise Messi and rightly so. Even now he is ageing, he is still their greatest player by a long shot and in recent seasons, he has saved the Catalans on a few occasions.

But there seems to be a growing concern surrounding his position at Barcelona. He has the option to leave this summer should he wish to end his footballing tenure somewhere else.

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Although Messi has claimed many times in interviews that he is happy at Barcelona and has no desire to leave, the sticky situation Barcelona find themselves in could change his mind. With fans growing concerned over the club’s hierarchical structure, Messi is bound to be listening.

However, a report from El Desmarque claims that Barcelona are taking the right steps in keeping Messi. It reports that a contract extension which will tie him down until 2023 is being placed on the table, where he would become the highest-paid footballer in the world by an even greater margin.

Look, I agree that the amount footballers are earning is extortionate. However, there’s no denying that Messi deserves to be at the top of the top.

He is football’s most elite and he deserves to be rewarded for the fine work he displays on the pitch, so I am not surprised he will continue to be the highest earner.

Of course, what Barcelona need to be wary of, though, is how this will affect the rest of their players.

We saw a case study just a few seasons ago where Manchester United signed ex-Barcelona player Alexis Sanchez for extortionate wages and this affected the dressing room. Now, the Manchester United board are expected to pay a surplus amount whenever it comes to signing players or paying wages.

Barca will have been wary of this and they will know the price they pay. But when it comes to Lionel Messi, no valuation seems too much. He is simply that good that taking risks to keep him at the club is worthwhile.

Do you think Barcelona are doing the right thing by offering Lionel Messi a wage increase?