LIONEL MESSI is set to be served with a 'lifetime' contract at the Nou Camp in a bid to keep him out of the clutches of Manchester City.
Barcelona's CEO Oscar Grau has said the club will offer the No10 a similar deal to Andres Iniesta to keep him at Barcelona, despite Messi still not having signed his new four-year deal. Negotiations have been ongoing between Messi, 30, and the Spanish giants for 18 months, but the deal reportedly remains unsigned and he will be out of contract next summer.
But the club are adamant that he will be a one-man club, like Francesco Totti was at Roma.
At the club's annual general meeting, Grau said: "The idea is for Leo, who has been here since he was little, to stay here for life because he's an icon.
"After his playing days we want him to continue to be linked to the club." Iniesta, 33, signed what the club announced was a 'deal for life' in order to keep the Spaniard at the only club he has ever known as a professional.
The club created much fanfare around the signing of the contract and subsequently released a long tribute video to the captain after he reached second position in all-time appearances to the club.
Alongside Iniesta, Xavi and a number of others, Messi has helped the club win 30 trophies - they have won the treble three times in the last 11 years.
Barcelona's record goal scorer, with 522 goals, netted his 100th European goal for the club to take them top of their Champions League group just last week. Just last week Barcelona released footage of a young Lionel Messi appearing for the Spanish club on the 13th anniversary of his debut.
But rumours have been circulating that the Argentinian is after a fresh start and is looking at Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The recent political upheaval in Catalonia is also forcing Messi to consider whether his future is in Spain.
Which does not sit easily with the five time Ballon d'Or recipient who has a long and impressive track record at the club he joined when he was just 13 years old.
From The Sun
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