"Barcelona" president Josep Bartomeu claims that Lionel Messi signed a new contract back in June, but insignificant problems are preventing the official announcement. The previous contract of the Catalan star was only valid until the summer of next year, so there is great concern in the team's fan base, especially after Neymar was sold. Indeed, various media sources wrote about the five-time "Ballon d'Or" winner's agreement with "Barca" at the beginning of the summer, and the club president's words may not be groundless. "Everything is agreed and signed," - Bartomeu told Sport. "There are three contracts. One with Messi's charity foundation, signed by the president of the foundation and the player's brother." "There is also an image contract with Messi, signed by his father, who is the administrator of his company, and an employment contract, also signed by his powerful father." Asked what is missing for all this to be announced publicly, Bartomeu replied: "(what is missing - ed.) is for Leo to come and take an official photo and the protocol of the contract." "The contract is signed, it is valid from June, from the 30th. If interested, from the same day he got married. An audit of his contract was conducted because he was included in last season's reports." The president also insisted that there was simply no time to prepare an official announcement, as "Barcelona" was on tour in Japan and later played many matches. After the international break, Messi is facing many more games, but Bartomeu promised to find the right moment. He himself claimed not to have noticed that the Argentine could feel unhappy in Barcelona.
