Soccer

Barcelona president: Messi’s new contract signed by his father

Diego Simeone has signed a two-year contract extension with Atletico Madrid

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring against Alaves. Photograph: Reuters

Tue Sep 5 2017 - 12:25

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has reassured his club's supporters that Lionel Messi's new contract has been signed, albeit by the player's father.

The Catalan side announced an agreement with Messi, their all-time leading goalscorer, in July to extend his stay to 2021 but the Argentine has not yet put pen to paper, prompting fears he might leave at the end of the season when his previous contract expires.

In an interview with newspaper Diario Sport, published on Tuesday, Bartomeu said Messi’s father Jorge had signed the contract and the only outstanding matter was to take a photo of Messi doing it himself.

“It’s all agreed and signed. There are three contracts,” said Bartomeu.

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“One with the Messi Foundation, which is signed by its president and the player’s brother, an image rights contract with Messi signed by his father, who is the administrator of his company, and his employment contract, which his father signed - he has the power to do so.

“(What remains is) that Leo arrives and we have the official photograph and the protocol of the signature. The contract is signed and it’s valid from the month of June, June 30th, the same day he got married.”

Bartomeu also spoke about Andres Iniesta’s new contract, with Barcelona’s veteran playmaker on a deal which expires at the end of the season.

“We have the basis of a deal to renew and we hope to seal it in the coming weeks,” Bartomeu told Mundo Deportivo.

“The idea is that he has an indefinite contract which renews automatically year on year until he thinks he wants to retire or change.”

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has signed a two-year contract extension with the La Liga club.

The 47-year-old Argentinian, who first took charge of the Spanish outfit in December 2011, will remain with Atleti until the end of June 2020.

A statement on the club’s website read: “Our manager signed the new contract that ties him to Atletico Madrid for two more seasons, until June 30th, 2020.

“The much-awaited news by the Atletico fans is thus confirmed, something that Enrique Cerezo, Miguel Angel Gil and Simeone himself have always hinted at in their public statements.”

Former Atletico midfielder Simeone led the club to Europa League success during his first season in charge before claiming the European Super Cup and the Copa del Rey the following term.

Further success followed with their 10th league title in 2013-14, when they also reached the Champions League final, only to be beaten by neighbours Real.

So far this campaign they sit fourth in the league table after an unbeaten start ahead of Saturday’s trip to Valencia.

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