Messi tables list of demands for contract renewal

Lionel Messi has given Barcelona president Joan Laporta a list of demands that he expects to be met before signing a new contract.

The Argentina international was close to leaving Camp Nou last summer and is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Barca have grown increasingly confident of persuading Messi to pen fresh terms in Catalonia, however, following an upturn in results and the reappointment of Laporta last month.

According to Eurosport, though, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner will not put pen to paper until he can see clear progress is still being made on and off the field.

The report suggests that Messi expects astute signings to be made, such as Eric Garcia on a free transfer from Manchester City, plus one marquee signing – possibly Borussia Dortmund star Erling Braut Haaland.

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Messi is also said to have made it clear to the club that more needs to be done to integrate younger players into the first-team fold, and he would like to retain a direct line of communication with the club’s president.

The superstar forward’s contract will officially expire on July 1 and his situation is being monitored by the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Man City.