BARCELONA – Argentina’s star footballer Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona that could keep him at Camp Nou until 2021, the club announced on Saturday.
The contract contains a buyout clause worth a staggering £626million.
14 seasons with the first team
Lionel Messi joined Barça back in 2000 as a 13-year-old, arriving from Newell’s Old Boys. After impressing throughout the various youth categories, he made his first team debut at just 16 years of age in a friendly against FC Porto, before making his official debut the following season against Espanyol at age 17. Shortly after, he scored his first senior goal with a clever lob against Albacete at the Camp Nou.
The rest is history. Leo Messi has since gone on to break just about every record and has become the greatest player in history with a staggering numbers of goals, titles, records, and individual and team awards. Now, at 30 years of age, Messi is in his 14th season with the first team and, with his new deal, will be dressed in blaugrana for at least 17 seasons in total.
