Barca President in Talks as Messi demands £825,000 a Week

BARCELONA’S president Josep Maria Bartomeu is said to have phoned Lionel Messi’s dad Jorge Horacio Messi in an effort to speed up contract negotiations.

The Argentine attacker is stalling on signing a new contract over concerns regarding his tax fraud case. Barcelona would prefer not to pay Messi the staggering amount he is demanding — and are trying to appease him in other ways.

SunSport revealed that Messi is asking for £825,000 A WEEK to stay at the Nou Camp.

They include showing their ambition to win more titles by tying down his fellow stars to lengthy deals, and by guaranteeing he has a comfortable environment to continue playing in.

And Spanish newspaper Sport has revealed Bartomeu has taken a personal interest in getting the contract tied up, by speaking with Messi’s father Jorge Horácio Messi.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and even Atletico have been forced into a spate of contract renewals for their top stars due to pressure from the increasing financial power of the Premier League.