Messi extends contract through 2018: "It's a fantastic day"

This afternoon Leo Messi extended his contract with FC Barcelona through June 30 of 2018. The signing ceremony was attended by the player, President Sandro Rosell, Vice-President Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta.

Blaugrana until he’s 31

Messi added two additional years to his existing contract, which was set to expire in June of 2016. The player, who joined the Club when he was 13 years old and made his first-team debut three years later, will be 31 when his contract expires.

“I want to continue playing football for Barça”

After he signed his contract with Barça, the Argentine forward declared: “I’m very happy at Barcelona, I’ve always said that. It’s a fantastic day ... I don’t know how I’ll be when I’m 31. I take it one day at a time and I want to continue playing football for Barça”

What he is sure about, however, is that the only European club he’ll ever play for is FC Barcelona. “I said it before, in Europe I’d like to end my career at Barça. I wouldn’t consider moving to another European club. With that said, I’m not ruling out the possibility of ending my playing career in Argentina.”

The match against Getafe

Messi also talked about this Sunday’s match against Getafe, which is scheduled to kick off at noon: “I don’t think it will by any different to play at 12.00. We’ve all done it when we were with the youth teams. Besides, we all train at noon - we’re used to it.”