FC Barcelona

Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed Friday the La Liga club continues to work toward a resolution to keep superstar forward Lionel Messi at Camp Nou.

"Messi? It's progressing. He wants to stay, we want him to stay. We are on the way to finding a formula," Laporta told Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Jamie Kemble of Football Espana).

The 34-year-old club legend became a free agent when his contract expired Thursday.

Messi nearly made a high-profile exit from Barca after last season, but he explained to Goal's Ruben Uria in September a disputed contract clause and a €700 million buyout fee made a departure "impossible."

"I thought and was sure that I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not," Messi said. "Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season."

Laporta, who previously served as the club's president from 2003 through 2010, was elected back into the role in March following the departure of Josep Maria Bartomeu.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported Wednesday the return of Laporta was a "major factor" in the change of heart from Messi, who's "grown more open to staying throughout the course of the last year."

So, while there's mutual interest in continuing a partnership that began when the Argentina international arrived at the club's La Masia youth academy in 2001, there are financial hurdles.

La Liga president Javier Tebas told Mundo Deportivo (via ESPN) in late June that Barcelona needed to reduce their wage bill for the 2021-22 term in order to fit in Messi's new contract.

"Barcelona have exceeded their wage cap," Tebas said. "I hope they can keep Messi, but to do so, they will have to make cuts elsewhere."

Meanwhile, Messi remained his typically dynamic self this past season with 30 goals and nine assists across 35 La Liga appearances. He added five goals in six Champions League matches.

The Argentina national team has reached this summer's 2021 Copa America quarterfinals thanks in part to the forward's tournament-high three goals in the group stage.

While La Albiceleste prepare to take on Ecuador in the quarters in Brazil on Saturday, work continues back in Spain as Barcelona look to finalize a contract for the face of the club.

Longtime Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is scheduled to become a free agent Thursday, but the Spanish club reportedly remains confident in its ability to retain the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported Wednesday there's a "loose agreement" in place between Messi and Barca, but the club is still working toward "squaring the numbers with La Liga and the tax office" to ensure it will remain financially compliant.

Pressure is on Barcelona president Joan Laporta to finalize a new contract for the legendary forward, who arrived to the club's famed La Masia youth academy in 2001 and quickly worked his way up the ranks to the first team.

Laporta, who previously served as Barca's president from 2003 through 2010, was reelected to the position in March after running a campaign heavily based on his prior relationship with Messi and his ability to re-sign the Argentine international.

"I am sure that if someone else wins the election [other than me], Messi won't stay at the club," Laporta said in a March debate. "I have a good relationship with him; there's a lot of respect. We'll make him an offer based on the club's situation. Maybe we can't compete financially, but Messi is not ruled by money. He wants to end his career at the highest level possible."

Messi, who sought an exit from Camp Nou last year before ultimately staying because of a disputed clause in his contract, has "grown more open to staying" at Barcelona, and the return of Laporta has been a "major factor" in that change of heart, per Marsden and Llorens.

It was reported the club has gotten "creative" with its contract offer to the six-time La Liga Best Player Award winner since it can't match his previous four-year, €500 million deal.

Barcelona formally declined comment to Reuters on Tuesday when asked for an update on the state of negotiations with Messi.

Meanwhile, Messi has been his usual dynamic self for the Argentine national team in the 2021 Copa America, leading all players with three goals at the conclusion of the group stage. His participation with La Albiceleste is another factor "delaying any announcement" with Barca, per ESPN.

Argentina's next match isn't until a quarterfinal fixture against Ecuador on Saturday, giving the club a few days to finalize the contract. The tournament runs through July 10.

Barcelona officials reportedly have a positive outlook regarding the possibility of signing superstar striker Lionel Messi to a new contract.

According to Goal's Ruben Uria, Barcelona is "optimistic" a deal will get done despite there being no agreement in place at the moment.

Messi, who has been with the club for the past 17 seasons, will see his current contract expire at the end of June.

Uria added that Barcelona have remained in "constant dialogue" with Messi's father and agent, Jorge Messi, although an official offer hasn't yet been made to the Argentine.

Last summer, there were rumors regarding Messi wanting to leave Barcelona, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly making a push to sign him.

ESPN reported at the time that Messi had called Manchester City manager and former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola to tell him he wanted to leave Barca.

Despite the rumors, the 33-year-old Messi played out the 2020-21 La Liga season for Barcelona and remained dominant, leading La Liga with 30 league goals in 35 appearances.

As a club, Barcelona had a somewhat disappointing season, though, as it finished third in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Messi isn't used to team failure at Barca, as the Blaugrana are 10-time La Liga champions, seven-time Copa del Rey winners and four-time UEFA Champions League champions during his tenure.

According to Uria, Messi is concerned more about Barcelona fielding a more competitive team than he is with his salary.

Messi, who is currently playing for Argentina at the Copa America, is one of the greatest soccer players of all time with six Ballon d'Or awards to his credit and 672 career goals with Barcelona on his resume as well.

Continuing to win trophies during the latter part of his career could help set him apart from the likes of Pele and Cristiano Ronaldo in the history of the game, and based on Uria's report, Messi may be awaiting assurances that Barcelona can provide him with a winning formula moving forward.

La Liga President Javier Tebas has warned Barcelona that it must cut wages to get under the league-imposed salary cap as the June 30 expiration date for superstar Lionel Messi's contract rapidly approaches.

"Barcelona have exceeded their wage cap," Tebas said, per Jose Luis Artus of El Mundo Deportivo (h/t ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens). "I hope they can keep Messi, but to do so, they will have to make cuts elsewhere."

Barcelona President Joan Laporta told La Vanguardia that he's confident the team can sign Messi to a new deal.

"I would like Messi to tell us 'yes' as soon as possible," Laporta said (h/t Juan Jimenez of AS). "He would help us in every way."

However, Barcelona has to keep an eye out as negotiations with Messi occur. Marsden and Llorens gave some context on Barcelona's financial situation:

"Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Barca had the largest cap in Spain's top flight in 2019-20 at €671 million.

"However, La Liga's new limit for the 2020-21 season was €382.7m. The Catalan club were given some leeway in terms of reducing salaries, but it meant they were unable to register Memphis Depay despite agreeing on a fee with Lyon last September.

"La Liga could technically prevent them from registering Messi's new contract or inscribing new signings this summer if they don't adhere to certain financial regulations."

Messi has been associated with Barcelona since 2000. He made his first-team debut in 2004.

Messi has scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona, which has won the UEFA Champions League four times since 2005. The Argentina captain, who turns 34 on Thursday, has also scored 73 goals for his national team.

Barcelona came third in La Liga with 79 points this past season, the team's worst finish for 13 years. In the Champions League, the Blaugrana fell to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, its worst performance in the competition since 2006-07.

Barcelona bolstered its attack on Saturday. 

The Catalan giants announced the signing of former Lyon winger Memphis Depay as a free agent, inking him to a two-year deal. 

Depay will be reunited with his former Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman. Koeman tried to bring Depay to the Camp Nou last season, only for the move to fall apart because of La Liga's wage cap.

Instead, a year later he'll get his man on a free transfer. 

"Everyone knows I have been linked to Barca for a while now, and I want to play for Ronald Koeman," Depay told reporters this week during the Euros, where he's competing for the Dutch. "Just wait, and then the news will come."

Depay, 27, had a superb 2020-21 season for Lyon, scoring 20 goals and adding 12 assists in 37 Ligue 1 games (33 starts) while helping the club finish fourth in France's top league. He's continued his strong form at the Euros, with a goal in two games for the Netherlands. 

Barcelona will have an interesting and dangerous suite of attackers heading into the 2021-22 campaign, headlined by Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Depay, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Sergio Aguero. 

How Koeman utilizes that depth will be fascinating. There's little doubt that Messi will feature, and given Koeman's desire to bring Depay aboard over the past two years, he seems likely to play a major role as well. 

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Tuesday that club legend Lionel Messi "wants to stay" at Camp Nou but a new contract hasn't been finalized.

Laporta, who won the Barca presidential election in March after retaining Messi was a major part of his campaign, told reporters:

"Talks are ongoing with Messi's people. As I have said, they're going well. We hope to keep making progress. It's not done, but I am convinced, like [Sergio Aguero] said, that they would like to play together here. I have always said the issue with Leo is not financial for him.

"[Messi] is showing a lot of understanding and wants to stay and have a competitive team that wins trophies. The sooner we have a decision the better, of course, but we're not in a rush."

Laporta previously held the role of Barcelona president from 2003 through 2010, and he used the prior relationship he built with Messi to help secure another term in charge.

"I am sure that if someone else wins the election [other than me], Messi won't stay at the club," Laporta said in March. "I have a good relationship with him; there's a lot of respect."

The future of Messi has predictably become a hot-button topic following the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, which saw the club finish third in La Liga and get eliminated in the Champions League Round of 16.

"We lost the league and there will be consequences," Laporta said Tuesday. "That's the level of demand there has to be here. We want to improve the team and there will be more [signings]. We're working on it. We need to balance the squad, and you will see what we're working on soon. Next week there will be more news."

The Blaugrana already added Aguero on a free transfer from Manchester City to start the process of revitalizing the squad.

Being able to keep Messi, who confirmed he sought an exit from Camp Nou last summer before a dispute about a contract clause led him to stay, would prevent a major void from opening up.

The 33-year-old Argentine international has continued to produce at an elite level, scoring 35 goals and tallying 11 assists in 41 appearances between La Liga and the Champions League this past term.

Alex Milne of the Mirror reported Tuesday the superstar forward is prepared to sign a two-year contract extension with the Spanish club.

Messi has yet to publicly declare his intentions with his current contract set to expire at the end of June, though.

For now, he's returned to South America to compete for Argentina in the 2021 Copa America tournament, which kicks off June 13.

Barcelona announced on Monday that the club will sign forward Sergio Aguero as a free transfer on July 1 after his contract with Manchester City expires.

The Argentina international will have a buyout clause of €100 million in his contract, which runs through 2022-23.

Aguero, who turns 33 on Wednesday, scored 260 goals in all competitions during his 10 seasons with Manchester City. He leaves England as the top-scoring foreign player in Premier League history with 184.

Injuries slowed Aguero in 2020-21, limiting him to just 20 appearances in all competitions and only seven Premier League starts. He scored two goals in the final league match of the season as Manchester City secured the domestic title for the third time in the last four years.

Aguero also helped his squad win six League Cups and one FA Cup during his tenure. The club reached the UEFA Champions League final this year before a loss to Chelsea. The veteran played the final 14 minutes in Saturday's loss.

Prior to joining Manchester City, Aguero spent five years with Atletico Madrid from 2006-11, winning a Europa League title in 2010.

He now returns to La Liga looking to improve a Barcelona squad coming off a disappointing 2020-21 campaign. The club finished third in La Liga, its worst finish since 2008, and was eliminated in the Champions League's round of 16.

Aguero gives the club another weapon in the attack, which could be especially important with Lionel Messi potentially leaving this summer with his contract set to expire. The latest signing could also help convince the superstar to stay at the Camp Nou to play alongside his compatriot.

The two combined to help Argentina reach the final of the 2014 World Cup and win gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus have openly remained attached to the Super League experiment, and UEFA announced Tuesday that it was commencing disciplinary proceedings against the clubs. 

All other clubs previously connected to the attempted Super League—AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Inter, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham—have publicly cut ties. 

Real Madrid president and Super League maestro Florentino Perez has insisted that the Super League isn't dead, despite just three clubs remaining committed to its implementation. 

"I'm not going to take my time to explain what a binding contract is here. But the fact is, the clubs can't leave," he told AS' Joaquin Maroto in late April. "Some, because of the pressure, have had to say they'll leave. But this project, or something very similar, will happen, and I hope it's in the near future."

The 12 aforementioned clubs had originally agreed to a plan that would essentially remove them from the UEFA Champions League in favor of a yearly competition they were guaranteed to partake in, with the opportunity for a few additional berths for other clubs each season. 

But world football supporters around Europe quickly and comprehensively protested the move, arguing that such a league would only widen an already deep gulf between the financial haves and have-nots in the sport. Additionally, Super League detractors argued that clubs should have to play their way into elite competitions, which the Super League was essentially bypassing. 

For a Premier League team to reach Champions League, for instance, they must finish top-four in the table (or either win the Europa League or Champions League the season prior). No such stipulations would have existed for the founding clubs of the Super League. 

The appeal of those clubs was simple—consistent and substantial financial gain. Whereas top clubs stand to lose major money if they miss UCL qualification, the Super League would have guaranteed them major yearly revenue. 

In the wake of the severe fan backlash, the majority of the Super League clubs pulled out of the arrangement, with just Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus standing firm. It remains to be seen what potential discipline UEFA will levy upon them if they don't back down. 

Barcelona has granted superstar forward Lionel Messi permission to sit out Saturday's La Liga finale against Eibar to rest ahead of the Copa America tournament with Argentina, which kicks off in mid-June.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported Friday the decision means Messi, who's once again become the focus of summer transfer rumors, may have already played his last match with the Spanish club.

Duncan Wright of The Sun reported Sunday that Premier League giant Manchester City, which showed interest in the Argentine international last summer, is once again at the forefront of the discussions. Wright reported Messi would be open to a one-year, $35 million contract with an option for a second season.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are among the other clubs linked to a possible Messi pursuit, but staying at Camp Nou remains the "most likely" outcome for the 33-year-old Barca legend, per Wright.

It'll be an unfortunate turn of events if Messi's Barcelona career comes to an end without a proper sendoff, especially since supporters have been barred from attendance for over a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet, a departure wouldn't come as a surprise since the six-time Ballon d'Or winner told Goal in September 2020 he sought an exit last offseason but a dispute about a contract clause prevented him from leaving.

"I told the club, including the president, that I wanted to go. I've been telling him that all year. I believed it was time to step aside," Messi said in September.

The attacking sensation remained a dominant force for Barcelona throughout the 2020-21 term. He recorded 35 goals and 13 assists in 41 appearances between La Liga and the Champions League.

While Barca captured the Copa del Rey title in April, with Messi scoring twice in the final, the club fell short in its main objectives this season. It sits third in the La Liga table heading into the final match and was eliminated by PSG in the UCL Round of 16.

The departure of Messi would usher in a new era, but club president Joan Laporta is confident of reaching an agreement on a new contract.

"Leo is the best player in the world and has a very strong bond with the club. I'm convinced he wants to stay, and we'll do everything in our hands to make sure he does," Laporta said in April.

The situation should have more clarity between now and mid-July while Messi is back home trying to win the Copa America title with co-host Argentina.

Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid released a joint statement Saturday in response to "threats" from UEFA to distance themselves from the failed European Super League proposal.

"The founding clubs have suffered, and continue to suffer, unacceptable third-party pressures, threats and offenses to abandon the project.

"This is intolerable under the rule of law and Tribunals have already ruled in favor of the Super League proposal, ordering FIFA and UEFA to, either directly or through their affiliated bodies, refrain from taking any action which may hinder this initiative in any way while court proceedings are pending."

UEFA announced Friday it reached an agreement with nine of the 12 Super League founding members on "reintegration measures," which included a future commitment to UEFA club competitions.

The statement noted the cases of Barca, Juve and Real Madrid would be referred to the governing body's disciplinary sector for "whatever action it deems appropriate."

Although the holdout clubs said they're offering to "reconsider" their stance, they remain so far unwilling to completely abandon the idea of a lucrative alternative to the UEFA Champions League:

"We are fully aware of the diversity of reactions to the Super League initiative and, consequently, of the need to reflect on the reasons for some of them. We are ready to reconsider the proposed approach, as necessary.

"However, we would be highly irresponsible if, being aware of the needs and systemic crisis in the football sector... we abandoned such mission to provide effective and sustainable answers to the existential questions that threaten the football industry."

The Super League's 12 founding members, which would have been joined by three other permanent clubs and five yearly qualifiers under the proposed plan, sold the idea on the basis the infusion of money could have had a trickle-down effect to help save European football.

It was met with extreme backlash from fans, who saw the effort as a greedy push from owners of the continent's richest clubs, and UEFA, which saw the ESL as a direct threat to the UCL and threatened to ban players who took part from future UEFA and FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup.

The Super League suspended operations after just two days as clubs quickly backed out amid the widespread criticism, with most issuing apologies to their supporters for the failed effort.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, one of the ESL's staunchest defenders, issued a warning to AS' Joaquin Maroto in late April about the future of European football without a bolder plan than the proposed 2024 Champions League restructure:

"The truth is, no. Not the format, that nobody understands, not the time period, because by 2024...either we fix this before or all the clubs go bankrupt. There will be a mutiny of the teams as they go bankrupt, because the only ones who will survive will be state financed clubs or who have multimillionaire owners, who are willing, for their own entertainment, to lose hundreds of millions [of euros] each season."

Friday's agreement between UEFA and the Super League members who've abandoned the project leaves little chance of it being revived because clubs granted the governing body the right to issue fines of up to €150 million for playing in an "unauthorized competition" (€100 million) or a breach of the "club commitment declaration" (€50 million).

Without that large contingent of high-profile clubs, it's hard to imagine any breakaway effort gaining traction as a true alternative to the Champions League.

So the ball rests at the feet of Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid. They must decide whether to continue to explore their options or come to terms with UEFA to leave the Super League in the rear-view mirror.