Lionel Messi 'Close' to New Deal While Reports Claim Another Star Commits Future to Barcelona
Lionel Messi is reportedly "getting closer" to agreeing terms on a new Barcelona contract, according to Mundo Deportivo.
In news that will fill La Blaugrana's fanbase with both relief and elation, the paper has claimed that the Barca superstar's talks over an improved deal with the Catalan giants have gathered pace over the past few days after his father jetted in to help negotiate the terms of the contract.
Jorge Messi is said to have met with Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu to discuss what kind of salary the club plans on handing to his son to keep him out of the clutches of interested parties, which are thought to include Manchester City, and the former harbours hopes of finalising the deal before he returns home to his native Argentina.
Barcelona are believed to be prepared to offer Messi a wage packet on par with fellow South American talisman Neymar, who put pen-to-paper on his own new five-year deal worth a reportedly staggering £430,000-a-week.
If Messi, 29, opts to sign on the dotted line it would be a massive blow to City's hopes of prising him away from the Nou Camp. Citizens boss Pep Guardiola was rumoured to be plotting a way to bring his former protege to the Etihad Stadium after talks stalled over extending Messi's contract, and the Spaniard would have to look elsewhere for summer transfer targets if the Argentina captain remains in Catalunya.
In further good news, Barcelona are also set to announce that Marc-Andre ter Stegen is ready to commit his future to the club by signing his own improved five-year contract.
Thank you everyone for all your messages, photos and drawings to wish me a happy birthday I had a great day and wish you all a good week pic.twitter.com/4rwAiVenrL
— Marc ter Stegen (@mterstegen1) May 1, 2017
The German shot stopper is believed to have shook hands on the terms of a new deal, and Mundo Deportivo added that an official announcement will be made in due course once the papers are finalised.
Ter Stegen, who joined Barcelona from Borussia Monchengladbach for £10m in July 2014, became the club's new number one goalkeeper following the departure of Claudio Bravo to Man City last summer. The 25-year-old has featured 43 times for the current La Liga leaders this term, and appears to have been rewarded for his form throughout 2016/17 with the offer of a new deal.
Once ter Stegen signs on the dotted line, he will join the likes of Neymar, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets in committing his long-term future to the club.
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