Lionel
Messi has agreed on a new contract with Barcelona that will run till 2018.
The Catalan giants confirmed on their official website the
Argentinian would pen the deal "in the coming weeks". Barça also
revealed Xavi and Carles
Puyol had agreed extensions until 2016.
Messi's current deal runs until June 2016 and the new
agreement will keep him at the Nou Camp till june 30 2018.
The forward has enjoyed an extraordinary year, even by his
own remarkable standards, netting his 89th and 90th goals of 2012 at the
weekend.
He is also in contention to claim a fourth successive FIFA
Ballon d'Or crown, being named on a three-man shortlist alongside Cristiano
Ronaldo and team-mate Andres Iniesta.
Defender Puyol's contract was due to expire at the end of
the season, while midfielder Xavi's
ran out the following summer.
Their new deals are set to keep them at Barcelona for the
rest of their careers and underline their commitment to the runaway Primera
Division leaders under new coach Tito Vilanova.
They also reduce the chances of former boss Pep Guardiola
being able to tempt them away if he returns to club management next season.
A statement on the Barcelona website read: "This news
means that FC Barcelona has secured its ties with three of its most important
players. Over the course of the next few weeks, Carles
Puyol, Xavi Hernandez
and Leo Messi will all be signing their respective new contracts."
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