Messi extends Barcelona contract till 2018

Zeenews Sports Bureau

Madrid: Star striker Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona that will keep him in the club till 2018. . Messi`s intention to sign a new deal had been signalled by the club, along with teammates Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez, back in December. The contract was signed in the presence of president Sandro Rosell, vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta. The contract retains the same USD 335 million buy-out clause as his previous deal and Messi will reportedly earn a net salary of USD 14.75 million. Messi broke an all-time European record on his way to scoring 91 goals in 2012, surpassing the previous record of 85 scored by German Gerd Muller in 1972.