Messi close to signing new PSG contract

David Adán MESSI SET A Barça return is unlikely, with the star poised to renew at PSG FOR PSG DEAL

[{"selector":"#anim-33e84133-e2c9-4269-8172-867d9c6353ba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea6869f5-47de-413a-8e20-799fd0df5acf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(6.451612638975888%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] After winning the World Cup, Lionel Messi now needs to sort out his future. His PSG contract is up in June, and he has several options.

[{"selector":"#anim-87dbdadf-952f-449e-8a9e-3870da73af55","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a5eebc7-99ca-4059-b55c-ef2bc9296298 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.006369165867909%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] It seems likeliest that the 35-year-old will renew his PSG deal. AS can confirm that he has agreed in principle to extend his stay in Paris.

[{"selector":"#anim-d3a19817-76f3-4db3-9463-eb457e17c181","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1053c339-a4c9-468d-877e-cb46cb7d60d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 11.538461538461538%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] This follows Le Parisien's disclosure that Messi gave his word to the club during the World Cup that he would be penning a contract renewal.

[{"selector":"#anim-50230429-66ca-4fd6-9c54-d9e591ed8bb7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-092f9650-c3c8-4275-8105-0d9a218a9909 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.235922400321591%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] The length of Messi’s new deal is still to be finalised, as his exact salary, but he wants to stay. It’s his best chance of winning the Champions League.

[{"selector":"#anim-33b5c7f6-d5ff-4e78-b255-9a646a77aabc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-303458c0-9014-4f55-914a-2939a9f72d55 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(15.397727062762023%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] PSG president Nasser Al Khelaïfi: “I’ve said it a thousand times. He’s very happy in Paris. He looks happy. We’ll sit down for talks after the World Cup.”

[{"selector":"#anim-940857af-4fd0-45d4-88c3-d0e45bf74f9a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6be25354-d8b9-4dd0-894d-52468a7ccc87 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(4.081632374430362%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] In 27 games for PSG this season, Messi has racked up 17 goals and 17 assists. He’s having a great campaign alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

[{"selector":"#anim-d94a9ed2-227f-4bf9-b3e1-318de3eaf9a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbc45748-e3cc-445a-aa9c-5ad9d66090ce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.176136115918757%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Another option for Messi is to return to Barcelona. He wasn’t happy in the French capital last season, and wished he hadn’t left Catalonia.

[{"selector":"#anim-63855de1-39bb-4f14-b360-180490de097d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.53844%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-268ab9f0-a795-48e3-bfe7-02a498c1168f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(16.249999795206307%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Financially, however, Barça will struggle to fit Messi’s wages into their salary cap. And on the field, he could hamper youngsters’ progress.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c45626e-8ac1-458e-958e-b825e2076cf8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b233d7a6-c422-45ab-89f3-f306bfa293c1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-3.9249143961861037%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] A move to the MLS is also possible, but Messi showed in Qatar how much he still has to offer. He wants to carry on competing at the top level.

[{"selector":"#anim-0f217bfe-4d40-4980-8795-e6aa3996d00a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6affcaba-d95b-4710-a91e-b1d8ccd9a28c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.886363423295453%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Meanwhile, Messi is keen to keep on playing for Argentina. “I want to wear this shirt as a world champion,” he said after winning the World Cup.

[{"selector":"#anim-c6de567d-c988-412a-9f5c-1b7dc24ee937","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 158.31521%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35a8b5fe-47cc-4aa6-a504-f1990bec9c3b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(4.237287857906863%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Many in Argentina are pleading with him to go to World Cup 2026. If he did, he’d be the first man to feature at six editions of the tournament.

[{"selector":"#anim-05acc37a-7a23-4824-a166-32213219a092","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-354edb30-fc32-4cf4-a5ed-57c0080ead55 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -9.01639294524909%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Messi’s future is yet to be confirmed, but all the indications are that he’ll stay in Paris. Do you think that’s the right decision?

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