LIONEL MESSI has decided to STAY at Barcelona and sign a new contract despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 34-year-old star is a free agent after the club failed to sign him up before his deal expired on June 30.
Negotiations continued while Messi helped Argentina win the Copa America but no breakthrough has been made yet.
Yet transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has insisted that the forward is staying following the news that PSG have given up on signing him on a free.
Barcelona’s boost comes just days after club president Joan Laporta claimed that the Catalan outfit are nearing a deal to renew Messi’s contract.
COMPETITION: WIN ONE OF FOUR SUPERCARS OR A DREAM CAR AND £100k IN CASH
He told Mago Pop on Spanish TV, via Marca: “[Messi’s deal] is progressing adequately well.”
Messi meanwhile is currently on holiday after he won his first major international trophy lifting the Copa America.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner emotionally reunited with wife Antonela Roccuzzo following the 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Maracana.
Angel Di Maria was the matchwinner but Messi remained his country’s main man with four goals and five assists in seven games.
And Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni revealed that the 151-cap international had been suffering with an injury in the tournament.
He explained: “If you knew the way that he played in the Copa America you’d love him even more.
“You can never do without a player like him, even when he is not fully fit like in this game and the previous one.”
SunSport previously revealed that Inter Miami are confident of landing Messi in two years time following the end of his next extension.
