Madrid (dpa) - The fans of FC Barcelona can breathe a sigh of relief: According to media reports, world footballer Lionel Messi will stay at least one more season with the Spanish champions.
The 32-year-old Argentinian has not activated a contractual clause that would have enabled him to move to another club free of charge in the summer, as reported by Spanish media, citing the club and the circles of the player. The deadline for activating the clause expired on Sunday, it said.
Messi has been part of the FC Barcelona professional team since 2004 and is the longest-serving player in the club. His contract runs until June 30 next year. According to the media, the transfer clause stipulated in the contract amounts to 700 million euros.
The Catalan sports newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" wrote that Messi hoped to storm side by side with his compatriot Lautaro Martínez next season and is therefore campaigning for the 22-year-old striker to move from Inter Milan to Barça.
According to media reports, the six-time world footballer has been dissatisfied with the Catalans' buying and selling policies for years. That had made fans afraid of leaving. The Catalans have won the Primera División title seven times in the past ten years, but the last triumph in the Champions League was almost five years ago.
Report in Mundo Deportivo
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