Barcelona 'to announce two-year Lionel Messi deal next week'

Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed a new two-year contract with Barcelona, and the Catalan giants are preparing to officially announce the fresh deal next week.

Messi attempted to force a move away from Camp Nou last summer but ultimately stayed with the club, and he scored 38 times and registered 14 assists in 47 outings during the 2020-21 campaign.

The Argentina international's current deal with Ronald Koeman's side is due to expire at the end of the month, but talk of a move to either Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain has quietened in recent weeks.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, both the Barcelona board and Messi's camp are confident that the final details on a deal until June 2023 will be concluded in the coming days.

Romano claims that the La Liga outfit are preparing to announce the agreement next week, putting an end to the speculation surrounding the 34-year-old's future.

Messi, who has scored 672 goals and registered 305 assists in 778 appearances for Barcelona, is currently away with his national team at the 2021 Copa America.