Barcelona to pay lifetime salary to Messi, others for winning European titles
Barcelona players both past and present who have won European titles will benefit from a new policy that will see them paid lifetime salary.
According to the Daily Mail in London, more than 290 players including Lionel Messi are expected to benefit.
It was a promise from former club president Joan Laporta initiated by Lionel Messi.
Barcelona have won five Champions League titles, four Cup Winners’ Cups and three Fairs Cups.
Laporta made the promise after Barcelona won the Champions League against Manchester United in Rome in 2009
Messi’s goal came in the 70th minute of 2009 final, sealing the win over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side after an early Samuel Eto’o strike.
Since then, the Catalans have won two more European titles in 2011 and 2015, with players ranging from Neymar to Marc Bartra added to the list of Barcelona’s European champions.
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Laporta was Barcelona president from 2003 to 2010 and oversaw the club as they won six trophies in one season under Pep Guardiola in 2009.