The saga of Lionel Messi’s contract renewal with Barcelona is creeping towards an end, reports in Spain have said.
Mundo Deportivo claims the arrival in Spain of Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent, is a sign that a deal is close, although some details remain unresolved.
The report adds that there were never any serious differences between the Messi camp and the club, only minor ones, and Messi will become the highest-paid player in the world.
But Barca are keen to ensure they get a return for their investment and want part of the contract to be structured depending on the success of the club, which is one of the sticking points.
A further point of contention is whether or not the contract should simply replace Messi’s current deal, which runs until 2018, or extend it by a year to 2019.
Both sides wanted the deal done before the World Cup but with only a handful of games before the end of the season, that is no longer guaranteed.
The death of Tito Vilanova has also caused a delay in proceedings as Barca entered a period of mourning for the former Coach.
But the presence in Spain of Jorge Messi is said to suggest an agreement will be reached soon after President Josep Maria Bartomeu personally intervened to keep negotiations on-track.
