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Report: Messi will not trigger exit clause this summer

FC Barcelona  v RC Celta de Vigo  - La Liga

BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 09: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Stanislav Lobotka of RC Celta de Vigo during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on November 09, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

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Barcelona is confident that Lionel Messi is not going anywhere, but the best attacker of his generation and probably ever will not sign a new deal before the end of his current contract.

Yes, that means Barca risks losing him on a free, but the club isn’t too worried abut it (at least publicly).

[ MORE: La Liga latest ]

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu says Barcelona will offer Messi a lifetime contract, but Marca is reporting both good and bad news on that front.

The good? Messi won’t trigger his exit clause in June.

The bad? He won’t sign a new deal until next season.

The report says leaving Barca “hasn’t crossed his mind,” and that he “has no intention” of doing so. That would make the new contract a bit of a moot point; If Barca knows he will stay, they just write down the present highest salary in the world on a piece of paper at that time and he signs.

“If Leo feels strong and ambitious, extended his contract indefinitely will surely be the will of everyone involved,” Bartomeu said. “I always compare him with Pele. Pele was a one-club man in Brazil. I have no doubt that, after Messi hangs up his boots, he will stay linked to this club for the rest of his life.”

Messi has 612 goals and 247 assists in 698 appearances for Barcelona. That is pretty good.

Follow @NicholasMendola