Lionel Messi rejects Barcelona proposal, admits Cristiano Ronaldo “made El Clasicos much more special”

Lionel Messi has rejected Barcelona proposal to offer the forward a “lifelong contract” saying that he does not want to sign a contract for life ‘that binds me’, as has been proposed by the Spanish club.

The 32-year-old has starred for the Catalan giants across 16 successive seasons and has scored a remarkable 604 goals – a club record – in 692 appearances for the team.

Messi has won an incredible 34 trophies with the Blaugrana including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns and six Copa del Rey trophies.

The Blaugrana president Josep María Bartomeu is said to be intent on extending the Argentine forward’s contract until after the 2022 World Cup and Cadena Ser reported last week it would be a ‘lifelong contract’, report Football Espana.

Bartomeu and Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent, have not sat down to speak recently but the president is said to be intent on resolving this issue as soon as possible.

Messi recently said he has not spoken to Bartomeu since the Champions League exit at Liverpool six months ago but added that he was open to discussing a renewal.

“It is true that Barcelona proposed me a contract for life, but what I said was that I do not want a contract that binds me like that,” Messi told Radio Metro in Argentina, as cited by Diario AS.

“I want to be fine to continue playing and to continue fighting for goals here. Being here I can be for life, but not with a contract. Here I would stay a lifetime.

“Cristiano Ronaldo not in Spain anymore? It is strange. It was good when Cristiano Ronaldo was there, he made El Clasicos much more special, he gave more value to La Liga as well.”