Argentine star Lionel Messi will be free from his contract with Spanish champions Barcelona next year, the club's president, Giuseppe Bartumio, told the club's channel: “We signed a two-year contract with Messi for four years. "He can leave Barcelona before the last season in 2020-2021, retire from football or play where he wants."
The 32-year-old Messi, the five-times world player of the year, will be able to follow in the footsteps of his former teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi, after a busy career in Barcelona. "Iniesta, Xavi and (Carles) Puyol had these items," Bartumio said. With these players and Leo Messi will not be worried. I doubt he would like to play for another team, but he deserved freedom about his future. "He is a big fan of Barcelona, and I have no doubt about it until 2021 and I hope for another year too.
Barcelona midfielder Gerard Pique said in an interview: "I knew that Messi could leave a free contract every season. We all know Liu's commitment to Barcelona, and that doesn't worry me. "He has gained the right to choose what he wants in his future after all he has given to this club."
Messi, who started his career with Barcelona in 2005, won 10 La Liga titles, six King's Cups and four Champions League titles. Bartomeo revealed that young Dutch defender Matisse de Licht, who moved to Juventus, "was among our goals, but decided not to come to Barcelona."
• Lionel Messi's current contract expires by 2021, but he can leave as a free player in 2020, as agreed with Barcelona.