Lionel Messi's contract situation remains one of the most discussed issues, and for obvious reasons, as the Argentine legend is on the brink of becoming a free agent. This would have been unthinkable a while back, but with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner yet to put pen to paper on a Camp Nou extension, worry among the Cules continues to grow.
La Pulga's current contract expires today, at midnight on June 30 in Spain, to be precise. There had been reports that a new deal was all but agreed and would be made official prior to the current expiration date, but this does not appear to be the case anymore.
Does this mean the South American icon, who recently turned 34, will end his stay with the Blaugrana and get the transfer he demanded last summer? In short, no.
Messi did send in a transfer request last summer, but since then, Josep Maria Bartomeu stepped down as president and Joan Laporta was elected as his replacement, with Leo boasting an excellent relationship with the current commander-in-chief.
Laporta has been in charge for four months and while he hasn't yet delivered on his promise to tie down Leo to a new contract, negotiations have been going well with his agent and father Jorge Messi. Hence, reports claiming that the Blaugrana captain will sign a two-year extension might not be off the mark.
Regardless, there have been complications, one being Leo's participation in the ongoing Copa America where he had led Argentina to the quarter-finals. Whether he will immediately put pen to paper once he reports back from club duty remains unclear.
According to Marca, while Laporta can frantically wrap things up in the final hours left in Messi's contract, those close to the negotiations have admitted that the remaining issues cannot be settled before the June 30 expiration date.
