The Amazing Numbers Behind Lionel Messi’s New Deal That Makes Him Highest Earner In Europe
Jul 11, 2017 at 10:44 AM
Barcelona are not in the greatest states this summer as they are in a state of transition after a less than impressive end to the previous campaign.
They failed to lift the league title or the Champions League and were not able to send Luis Enrique off with a blast.
The Spanish manager decided to quit the club at the end of the previous season and though the Catalan giants have already replaced him with Ernesto Valverde for the next season, they are yet to improve on the squad and are still waiting to make their first signing of the summer.
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However, they did have great news for the fans after it was revealed that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi signed a new long-term contract with the club recently.
Messi new deal
The Barcelona man is one of the best players to ever play the game and he has been as productive as ever at the Camp Nou, but failed to take his side for a top-flight title last season.
He had two years left on his contract at the end of the previous season and this saw a few stories link him with an exit.
Manchester City and PSG were reportedly ready to break the bank for his signature, and after Messi was alleged of tax fraud recently, it looked like he will look to leave Spain this summer.
However, those allegations have now cooled down and Messi has put pen to paper on a new deal, that will keep him at the club 2021.
At this time, Messi will have turned 34, so it looks like he has decided to end his career at the club.
Numbers behind the deal
But this deal offered to Lionel Messi to ward off interests from anywhere has some astonishing numbers, sure to drop some jaws.
To start off with, Messi has signed a new contract for four years, which will make him immune to any bids for at least two summers.
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He is now insured with a release clause of £263m, which astonishingly is not the highest for a player in Europe.
However, Messi could have easily been tempted with some financial incentives before the new deal but Barcelona also have that covered in the deal that Messi signed.
According to the Sunday Times, Messi’s gross salary will be £54.8m, which equates to more than £1m a week.
This makes Messi the highest paid footballer on the planet, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo form Real Madrid, who earns £19m a year on his current contract.
Do you think Messi is worth these insane figures at 30 years of age?