Barcelona have vowed to make Lionel Messi the best paid player in the world as they prepare to begin talks over extending his contract in the New Year.
Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have all penned new deals at their respective clubs in recent months, with the latter member of that list reportedly the world’s top earner with a salary of around €430,000-per-week.
Messi’s contract with Barca expires in 2018 but president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes that the 29-year-old will commit his future to the club imminently and be paid according to his status in the game.
“There are no doubts that sooner or later we will close [Messi’s] renewal,” Bartomeu said at a news conference on Tuesday to assess the calendar year. “I hope that he ends his sporting career here and after that I’m sure he will remain linked to the club.
He is without doubt the best player in the history of the game and we will make a huge effort to renew his contract.
“Messi is a Barcelona player, he feels Barca in his heart. I need to sit down and talk with him and his representatives [in the New Year] and I think he’s convinced he’s in the best place. We are, too.