Lionel Messi has rejected a bumper new contract offer from Barcelona if reports in Spain are to be believed.
The 29-year-old is set to enter the final year on his contract with the Catalan giants in the summer, and no new deal has yet been agreed.
Jorge Messi, the superstars father-cum-agent has been negotiating a deal with the club for a very long time now.
However, no solution has been reached yet – with both parties holding out to get the best possible deal.
The new contract reportedly offered the Argentina skipper a salary in the range of £25-30 million per season – but Jorge and Leo pulled the plug on the deal.
It is, however, being stated that a new deal will likely be agreed soon – with AS reporting that despite the rejection, there have been positive signals from both sides.
Negotiations are still going strong and it is expected that the two parties will reach an agreement in the coming months.
Messi is expecting a new and improved offer from the club, which he is likely to receive in the coming months.
He is confident of an improved deal, given how the club rewarded Neymar and Luis Suarez with bumper deals.
The Argentine has been in red-hot form, having scored four goals in his last three appearances for the club.
Meanwhile, reports linking him away from the club are also gaining momentum – with long time admirers Chelsea looking to hijack the deal.
Chelsea are said to be the likely destination for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with Blues owner Roman Abramovich being a long-time fan of the Argentine.
The Russian is also a good friend of Leo’s dad/agent Jorge and is willing to break the bank to get the talisman to the Stamford Bridge.
