Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed to accept a 50% cut on his wage with Barcelona to help them reduce their wage bill.
If the great Argentine burned any bridges last summer by wanting to leave the club to join Manchester City, he has surely mended them by bailing the Blaugrana out.
According to a report from Sport’s Ivan San Antonio, Messi has reached an agreement in principle with Barcelona to halve his wages.
The agreement includes a five-year contract and, as mandated by La Liga, a release clause has been included and is set at €350million.
Antonio goes on to say: “Now it is time for the lawyers and advisers of Barça and the player to finish polishing the details of the contract.
“The announcement is scheduled to take place at the end of July.”
Messi has shown his immense loyalty to Barcelona by accepting a massive pay cut just a year after the club refused to facilitate a move to Manchester City.
Fresh off a Copa America win, his first international trophy with Argentina, Messi is the favourite to win the 2021 Balon d’Or which will be his seventh.
Messi, who is the best player in the world yet again, has 39 goals and 11 assists for club and country this season.
He’s now taking a vacation after a long, hard season but will return to Barcelona where he will be joined by Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay.