Lionel Messi's Barcelona contract renewal takes a step forward

Without hurry but without pausing, FC Barcelona continue taking the steps required to keep the deal to renew Lionel Messi’s contract on track.

As SPORT have revealed, Josep Maria Bartomeu has been taking charge personally of proceedings, conscious of the importance of the operation.

First contacts have been made and in the last few hours vital steps have been taken. Everything is going as planned and in-depth negotiations will take place in the coming weeks.

Bartomeu’s relationship with Messi is fluid and has left behind any bad blood or misunderstandings from previous eras. The willingness is maximum from both sides and that is evident from the calls made in the last few hours. It couldn’t be any other way, with the deal a priority for Barcelona, who are making the necessary steps ahead of Messi’s father’s arrival at the training centre.

It is forecast that Jorge Messi will arrive in Barcelona before the Clasico, on December 3. The idea is for Bartomeu to meet him and for priorities to be discussed, for the player and the club. It is not impossible for a deal to be reached before the end of the year.

For this to pass, the club will have to do their homework. Messi wants the ideal environment at Barcelona to keep winning titles and for that it’s important key players have their deals renewed, including Ter Stegen, Rakitic and Luis Suarez, a grand companion of Messi on and off the pitch.

ONE CLUB MAN

With this work in the bag, Bartomeu can tackle the main job itself. As is logical, the negotiations will not be easy. We are talking about the best footballer in the world. But the optimism is high on both sides. At 29 and with a contract until 2018, this should be the last big contract renewal for Messi and it could be one for ‘life’. He’s a one club man and this is the idea to maintain for a player who arrived at La Masia at 13 years old and who has only worn two colours - Blaugrana.