Messi: Signature incoming

Lionel Messi and Barcelona are set to be officially linked once again with the Argentine's new contract with the club expected to be announced in the next few hours.

Both parties reached an agreement three weeks ago, but financial issues at Barcelona meant the deal had to be delayed with president Joan Laporta now breathing easy as his main goal has been achieved.

The club are confident that their star man will put pen to paper on his new contract in the coming hours and they can make Messi's stay at Barcelona official.

Messi has been a free agent since June 30, when his deal with Barcelona expired, and Jorge Messi, the player's father and agent, is expected to be in Barcelona by the end of the week. That will put an end to the soap opera which has gone on for almost a year since the No.10 announced his intention to leave the Camp Nou.

Messi will ratify the agreement reached three weeks ago, and will commit the next five years of his career to Barcelona. However, in the final three years he could play in the United States and become an ambassador for the Catalan club.

The agreement was only made possible thanks to the fact that Messi has reduced his salary by half and the economic injection received by LaLiga from the American investment fund CVC. Barcelona though, are still working to reduce their wage bill further as required by LaLiga.

As a result, Barcelona and LaLiga will keep one of the world's most valuable players in Spain. Messi, who has six Ballon d'Ors and six Golden Boots, will begin his 18th season in Spain's top flight as he looks to further cement his place in the record books.