Barcelona are making fresh attempts to tie Lionel Messi to a new and improved deal as the superstar could leave Camp Nou for nothing in just 18 months.
Messi, 31, is currently locked in a contract with Barcelona until 2021 but a clause in his current deal has forced the Blaugrana to return to the drawing board to ensure their leading man remains at the club for as long as possible.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Messi has a specific exit clause in his contract for 2020 which stipulates he may leave the club for nothing should he choose to join a 'non elite club' - which means he could follow in the footsteps of former teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta, who departed for Qatar and Japan respectively.