Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi could become the best-paid footballer in the world, as the Spanish giants prepare to begin negotiations over a new deal in the New Year.
The La Liga champions have secured the long-term futures of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets in recent weeks.
Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have also penned new deals with rivals Real Madrid and Ronaldo is reportedly the world’s highest earner with a €430,000-per-week deal.
Barca’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, says Messi will stay at the club and they are willing to break the bank to keep the 29-year-old.
“There are no doubts that sooner or later we will close [Messi’s] renewal,” Bartomeu said at a news conference on Tuesday to assess the calendar year.
“I hope that he ends his sporting career here and after that I’m sure he will remain linked to the club. He is without doubt the best player in the history of the game and we will make a huge effort to renew his contract.
“For me, the Ballon d’Or should have been won by Messi every year. When you hear the rest of the world speak about him, there’s no possible doubt. You don’t need to be a Barca fan to recognise the merits of Messi the player. He’s No. 1 without doubt.
“Messi is a Barcelona player, he feels Barca in his heart. I need to sit down and talk with him and his representatives [in the New Year] and I think he’s convinced he’s in the best place. We are, too.
“I don’t want to talk about numbers really. If he’s the best player in the world, though, then he should be the best player in the world in all aspects, even economically. That’s all I will say on numbers.”
