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The full magnitude of Lionel Messi’s half-billion-pound contract in Barcelona has been revealed by documents published in the Spanish press.
Messi, 33, signed an extension to his contract in 2017 to keep him at Camp Nou until the end of the current season.
Since signing his new contract, the Argentine has been named Barcelona captain and has achieved a record sixth Ballon d’Or.
There has also been success on the pitch, with Barcelona winning La Liga in 2018 and 2019, but things have gotten worse in the last 12 months.
Barça have fired two managers in that time and the recent release of their financial statements shows that they have a staggering 1.1 billion pounds in debt.
(Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Years of overspending and financial mismanagement were only compounded by the coronavirus outbreak last season, and The world claims that Barça must return 236 million pounds by the end of June or face bankruptcy.
On Sunday, the newspaper dealt another blow to the Catalan giants by releasing the details of Messi’s contract with the club.
The world published a redacted copy of the contract Messi signed with former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu a little over three years ago.
(Image: AFP / Getty Images)
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The document shows that the deal is worth a staggering € 555,237,619 (£ 491 million) when base salary, image rights, bonuses and many other variables are taken into account.
Messi is believed to have already received 92 per cent (£ 452 million) of that sum despite missing out on some lucrative bonuses in recent seasons, especially in the Champions League.
The contract amounts to 133 million euros (122 million pounds) per season, while Messi received a renewal bonus of 115,225,000 euros (102 million pounds) simply for putting the pen on paper. His loyalty bonus was set at € 77,929,955 (£ 69 million).
With Barcelona in debt, it seems highly unlikely that they can afford to present a contract extension to keep Messi beyond this summer.
There is already widespread speculation that the Catalans will need to sell players in an attempt to balance their books.
However, Joan Laporta, the favorite in the postponed presidential elections in Barcelona, is hopeful that Messi will stay at the club.
Should Lionel Messi sign a contract extension with Barcelona, even with the club with a crippling debt? Give us your opinion in the comments.
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