Lionel Messi has signed a new deal with Barcelona until 2016, the club have confirmed.
The Argentina playmaker, whose contract was set to run out in 2014, becomes the best paid player at the club while his release clause has also been increased from 150million euros to 250million.
The 22-year-old joined Barca as a youth-team player in 2001 and has won a host of trophies with the Catalan giants, including last season's unprecedented treble.
"This Friday Leo Messi extended and improved his contract which links him to FC Barcelona," read a statement on www.fcbarcelona.cat.
"The Argentinian will be azulgrana until 2016 and has, from now, a release clause of 250million euros (£153million).
"The signing of the contract took place this Friday afternoon in the club offices.
"Apart from the player and president Joan Laporta, also present were Leo Messi's brother Rodrigo, vice-presidents Rafael Yuste and Joan Boix, technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, and football director Raul Sanllehi.
"With this new contract, Leo Messi ensures he will be azulgrana for 15 years, having started his career at Barca in 2001, in the youth sectors of the club."
The announcement had been expected and earlier coach Pep Guardiola expressed his delight at the news.
"It's an immense piece of news for the club and for the player that Messi is renewing his contract," said Guardiola, "as it also was when Victor Valdes and Xavi did so. People go to football to see the best and that's what they are."
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Only the club can decide if he deserves it or not!......at least Messi has proven himself.......not just overpaying for astar bought from anywhere.
To all you haters that say Messi does not deserve the money, why don't you go fuxk yourself, because he deserves every single euro that he gets. If you want to complain about money, than start with Diving Diva ronaldo, who madrid paid 94m euros to just buy him, and are paying him 12m every year, now that is a waste of Money. At least Barca did not pay any money to buy Messi, so paying him his contract is no problem, considering that what he has done for Barca and what he will do for Barca. He has won so far, 3 La Ligas, 2 CL, 3 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Spanish Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, plus 2 times second place FIFA World Player, Won the World Cup U21 Player of the Year, won the European player of the year 2008-2009, and Won the Olympics with Argentina, and World Cup U21. Plus he Will win the World Club Cup, and FIFA Player of the Year award too. Now compare what Messi has won to what ronaldo and tell me who deserves more Money. So quit talking about Messi, you only talk trash about him, because he is not playing for your team. And don't worry Barca fans, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol are next to renew the contract.
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