• La Liga

Messi signs new Barcelona deal

ESPN staff
May 19, 2014
Lionel Messi and Barcelona missed on on the La Liga title on the final day of the season © AP
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Barcelona have confirmed Lionel Messi signed a "revised contract" with the club on Monday.

Luis Enrique becomes new Barca boss

Luis Enrique replaces Gerardo Martino © Getty Images
  • Luis Enrique has been confirmed as the new manager of La Liga giants Barcelona, while also announcing the signing of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
  • Former Barca midfielder Enrique has agreed a two-year deal at the Camp Nou, succeeding Gerardo Martino at the helm.
  • A statement on the club's official website read: "The FC Barcelona board of directors have this evening confirmed Luis Enrique Martíneza the new first team coach, following a proposal from sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta. Luis Enrique, 44, will sign a two-year deal."

On Friday, Barca announced that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner had ended prolonged speculation over his future by agreeing a new deal.

However, on Monday morning there was confusion over whether Messi had agreed terms, with the player suggesting on social media that he was not sure whether he was staying.

Later in the day, though, a statement on the Liga side's official website read: "FC Barcelona would like to announce that Leo Messi and the Club signed a revised contract this afternoon.

"The signing took place in the presence of Leo Messi, his father Jorge Messi and the Club President Josep Maria Bartomeu, as well as the sporting vice-president Jordi Mestre and the Club CEO, Antoni Rossich.

"During the signing, which was made in the Presidential Box at the Camp Nou, Leo Messi repeatedly expressed his excitement about the new deal."

Messi's previous deal, which contained a €250 million release clause, was due to end in June 2018. Those details reportedly remain unchanged, but Spanish media reports have claimed he will receive a pay rise from €13m to around €20m ($27m) net a season.

The Argentina international is the club's all-time leading goalscorer, having netted 354 times in 425 appearances for Barcelona.

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