#2 Messi still hasn’t signed a new contract
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The worlds of Messi and Barcelona have become so intertwined in the last decade that it’s hard to imagine one without the other, despite plenty of wild transfer rumours throughout the years. That’s why it’s so odd to hear that Messi is currently at an impasse in contract negotiations with the club, having turned down an extension just last week.
That extension was reportedly worth around £29m a season, a huge amount that would place him at the very top end of the list of football’s highest earners. Quite why Messi has turned it down remains unknown. The likelihood is that he simply wants more money, but the unthinkable – Messi leaving Barca – is suddenly a distinct possibility, given his current deal runs out at the end of 2017/18.
This point could become moot in the next few weeks if Messi inks a new deal, but until then, speculation is going to continue to fly around over the Argentine legend’s future at the Nou Camp. And while he’s had another brilliant season, scoring 51 goals in all competitions thus far, such heavy speculation would surely weigh on his mind.
If he were to commit his future elsewhere, Messi’s dominance may well begin to wane.
