HAVING A LUCRATIVE contract keeping Lionel Messi at Barcelona until 2016 was not enough.
His 90 goals in 2012 have earned him another new deal which includes a two-year extension to keep him wearing blaugrana until 2018.
Barcelona confirmed the agreement on their website this morning along with news that defender Carles Puyol and midfielder Xavi would also extend their stay.
Puyol’s contract was due to expire this summer and so could have listened to offers from clubs interested in taking him on a free transfer next month. His new deal will run to the summer of 2016.
Xavi had 18 months remaining, but will now also be contracted until 2016.
With Puyol and Xavi being dyed-in-the-wool Catalans, none of the trio were likely to seek a move away from the La Liga giants, but the new deals will at least ward off the cash rich PSG and Manchester City at bay.
