The Barcelona contract of Lionel Messi, six-time Ballon d’Or winner, has expired. However, the president of the Catalan club claims they are currently negotiating a new agreement.

Barca’s contract with the 34-year-old Argentina international expired June 30, amid speculation about a departure from Camp Nou, where he has lived since 2000.

Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, acknowledged that the situation wasn’t ideal but stated that negotiations were ongoing.

Laporta stated Wednesday that “We are doing well, but you have to fit an agreement into the financial fair play.”

“We want Leo to stay, and we are thrilled for him to. I wish I could say that Leo is staying, but I cannot.

“We are working on the solution”

Messi expressed his desire to leave Barcelona during the off-season. He was also growing dissatisfied with the club’s direction on and off the pitch.

Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former president of Barcelona, mentioned that he was bound to Barcelona by a clause in his contract. Laporta has since replaced him.

Messi’s 2017 contract was worth 555m euros ($A880m) and covered four seasons.

Barca is expected to keep him, as they have been trying to reduce their wage bill for the past 18 months, after being significantly affected financially by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Barca has added Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay to their off-season squad.

Messi and Argentina are competing in Copa America.

He won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League titles while at Barcelona. However, they have not won the domestic title since 2019 or the continental crown since 2015.

Messi received a cheeky approach in Argentina from Newell’s Old Boys, his boyhood club.

“Hi Leo! Are you there?” It is July 1, Argentina, right now.

Also Read: Messi is Argentina’s most-capped player, scoring two goals and assisting once.

The invitation was thinly disguised and featured Messi wearing a Newell shirt.

It was a photo taken by Messi as a tribute to Diego Maradona who played briefly for Argentina in the 1993-94 season.