Marca believe that Lionel Messi’s new contract announced as having been agreed with Barcelona yesterday hands the Argentine a considerable pay-rise.
Believed previously as having been on €12m net between basic pay and bonuses, reports from the Madrid-based publication believe that Messi’s latest new deal agreed with Barca until June 2018 boosts his salary up by €4m a year.
Bonuses include playing in at least 65 per cent of the team’s games each season, as well as performance-related rewards linked to goals and assists. Another bonus is handed out if the team qualify for the Champions League.
The buyout clauses for Messi, Xavi and Puyol are all reported as having stayed the same, so the Argentine is technically available to open talks with another club should a bid of €250m come in.