Joan Laporta has had a first meeting with Lionel Messi’s father, it reports TV3. The Barcelona president recently had an exploratory conversation with Jorge Messi about his son’s longer stay. According to the Catalan TV channel, the parties have shown ‘mutual intentions’ in the interview to continue with each other.
Laporta and Jorge Messi had lunch together last week to discuss the future of Messi junior. The president of Barça could not yet go into financial details, because he is awaiting an audit that should clarify exactly how the club is doing financially. It is clear that Barcelona can no longer offer Messi’s current salary, which is above 130 million euros per year.
Messi is reportedly willing to take into account the financial difficulties facing his employer. The attacker’s father is said to have indicated in conversation with Laporta that he is open to an ‘imaginative long-term contract’, which Barcelona wants to offer him. The new commitment would consist of three phases. Firstly, Messi is supposed to be active as a Barcelona player for two more seasons. That way, the Argentinian can also optimally prepare for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi’s last chance to become world champion.
In the second phase, Messi moves to the United States. It is a long-cherished wish of the South American to play again in Miami, preferably with his good friend Luis Suárez, who went from Barcelona to Atlético Madrid last summer. Messi will have the opportunity to join Inter Miami FC, the club of chairman David Beckham. Once the Argentinian has ended his football career in America, he can return to an unspecified position at Barcelona in the third phase.
Related
More sports news