(Football news) Lionel Messi has verbally agreed in principle to stay at PSG next season but negotiations are yet to start over a new deal according to various sources. Messi is set to be out of contract in June after spending two years at the Parc des Princes but the World Cup winner wants to continue for one or two more seasons in Paris, as first reported in the French newspaper Le Parisien. Negotiations have not started yet over contract details as they will include duration, wages or bonuses which are likely to be increased as there is an informal agreement that Messi will remain in Paris.

Ahead of the World Cup, PSG officials met with Messi’s father, where they told him they wanted to keep the forward and make him the focal point for next season, while Jorge said Messi also wanted to stay in Paris. Now with the World Cup over they will sit back down for talks with PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos in January when the forward will return from his much deserved 10-day break after the World Cup. Messi has not received any offers from any other club than PSG and has not spoken to Barca president Joan Laporta since he left the club.

Lionel Messi has been in phemonel form this season as he scored 12 goals and registered 14 assists for PSG. Nasser al Khelaifi also pledged to give him a competitive team to try to win another Champions League and to stay at the top of his game ahead of his next, and perhaps his final major tournament with Argentina at Copa America in 2024. Messi, who has already won seven Ballon d’Or titles will again be the favourite to lift the trophy next year as he helped Argentina lift the World Cup trophy by beating France on penalties in the final. It was Messi’s first World Cup win and the third in Argentina’s history.

Last month, it was reported that Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF were confident that they would sign the Argentina captain after the World Cup, but sources have denied there was an agreement in place. Barcelona were also interested in Messi’s return but those were false rumours. Messi will be looking to create history with PSG and help them win their first Champions League trophy ever as he looks to cement his legacy at the club.

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