Messi agrees to halve his Barcelona wages

Barcelona has reached a deal in principle with Lionel Messi for the Argentine veteran to remain with the Catalan club for another five years, but on half the wages, Spanish media reported on Wednesday.

Messi, who earlier this month finally landed a major international trophy with Argentina when it beat Brazil to win the Copa America, “will sign a five-season contract with a release clause of 600 million euros ($709 million),” according to Catalan sports daily L’Esportiu.

“The player will reduce his wages by 50 percent. Now it just remains for the lawyers to look over the agreement and give it the OK. Once that happens his continuation will be official,” said Madrid-based sports daily Marca, which confirmed L’Esportiu’s initial story.

According to the latter, Messi, 34, will earn in the region of 20 million euros basic next season with the Catalan club, which he has led to 10 league crowns as well as four Champions League titles.

Last season was a comparative disappointment as the club could only land the Spanish Cup and exited in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Last summer, Messi sought to leave Barca as a free agent via a clause in his contract before agreeing to see out the final year as the club threatened to go to court.