Why Lionel Messi will extend contract with Barcelona

It is now a piece of dreaded news to Barca fans that Lionel Messi is no more an employed player with the Spanish giant; a journey of 7,504 days after his first contract with the club was signed, on a napkin no less, the forward’s contractual link to the club has ended.

The new president of the club, Joan Laporta had been working hard to convince Messi to renew his contract before it expired but it wasn’t to be.

More so, the club’s financial problems prevented a new deal from being signed before the June 30 expiry date. However, there are reasons why the Argentine will want to remain in Barcelona.

The 34-year-old has been linked with moves to Paris St-Germain and Manchester City, where he would be reunited with his former boss at Barcelona Pep Guardiola, as well as America’s Major League Soccer.

Messi’s father and Laporta

It is no news that the relationship between Messi’s father and Juan Laporta, the new president of the club is in sync. Which one way or the other there will just be an agreement that could be reached soon, perhaps in a few days, but it hasn’t been established as of yet. There are also some aspects of the new contract that still need to be ironed out.

Sponsorship

Many of the Club’s sponsors based their loyalty on the influence of Messi. Nike, for example, is looking to promote the new shirt and they can’t advertise it without Messi, at least at this moment in time.

That’s just one example, but other sponsors don’t want to sign up to new deals while Messi isn’t guaranteed to be a part of the Catalan club’s future.

This doesn’t mean Messi is leaving the club, as those in charge at the Camp Nou believe he will put pen to paper on a new deal and continue to wear the blue and red colours. At this moment in time, though, Messi is not a Barcelona player.

Painfully, Barcelona doesn’t like that Messi is a free agent at this moment in time. For now, though, that’s the reality. And no Messi news will suggest otherwise.