After all the drama, Lionel Messi took a pay cut to stay with Barcelona

According to reports out of Catalonia, Lionel Messi agreed to take a pay cut for his new five-year deal with FC Barcelona. 

A move isn’t happening this summer for Lionel Messi, folks. Matter of fact, it’s looking like the legendary player will end up retiring with the club he’s won so much for: FC Barcelona. On Wednesday, a massive news piece broke from Spain.

Indeed, Messi has agreed to a new five-year deal with the Catalonian giants, which will see him suit up for Barca through the 2026 campaign. In order for that to happen, ESPN FC is reporting Messi agreed to a pay cut as well.

https://twitter.com/espnfc/status/1415295688070483970?s=21

Lionel Messi will be playing with FC Barcelona through the 2026 campaign

It goes without saying, but Barcelona fans must be doing jumping jacks in celebration right now. Messi had been linked with potential moves to PSG and Manchester City. Folks at the Etihad Stadium were dreaming of Messi suiting up for Pep Guardiola.

That won’t be happening, though. Instead, Messi will look to try and help Barcelona win another La Liga title. He’ll of course enter the new campaign with plenty of confidence after getting the monkey off his back with Argentina.

Over the weekend, Messi finally won his first major tournament with his native country, beating Brazil in the Copa America Final. Previously, Messi had lost three Copa America Finals and the World Cup Final against Germany in 2014. After the ’16 Copa America loss to Chile, he even quit the team.

He returned, though, and has now brought the glory home to Argentina. To make things even better for him, he’s now got this new contract in place with Barcelona and he’ll hope to power the team to a La Liga triumph this season. We’ll see if the lefty can get things done.