Messi staying with Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona enjoyed a big win on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) without even playing.

Lionel Messi finally put Barcelona and its fans at ease by signing a new contract that will keep the Argentine forward at the Spanish club through 2021 when he will be 34.

“The club … is my home,” Messi said. “My dream was to finish my career at Barca and we are moving down that path.”

The club did not reveal many financial details, including Messi’s salary. According to El Mundo newspaper, Messi will receive 30 million euros ($35.8 million) per season along with a signing bonus of 50 million euros ($59.6 million).

With his former contract set to run out next summer, Messi would have been free to listen to offers from other teams on January 1. That approaching deadline generated speculation Messi could follow Neymar’s lead and leave.

Messi’s new deal includes a buyout clause of 700 million euros ($835 million). The massive figure is aimed at keeping away even the likes of Paris SaintGermain, which secured Neymar in the offseason by triggering his buyout clause with a record 222 million euros ($262 million) payout.

Club president Josep Bartomeu said Barcelona and Messi already agreed to a new deal in June, but that following Neymar’s departure they revised it to more than double the buyout clause. It was originally set at 300 million euros ($358 million).

Bartomeu said the new contract “is more in line with the current situation in the ever-changing world of football.”