The Argentina superstar put pen to paper on his new deal at the Nou Camp on Thursday afternoon and is now tied to the Catalan giants until June 30, 2018.

Messi began his career at Newell’s Old Boys, where he played for five years until 2000, when he made the journey to Spain to join Barcelona’s youth team at age 13. He played for the first time on the senior squad at 16, in a friendly against Porto.

His contract with Barcelona wasn’t due to expire until June 30, 2016.

Messi follows in the footsteps of fellow club stalwarts Xavi and Carles Puyol, both of whom signed their extensions last month. Puyol and Xavi will extend theirs to June 2016.

The Catalans announced in December that Messi, along with Xavi and Puyol, had agreed to extend their contracts.

Barcelona defender Jordi Alba says Messi’s renewal “is great news for Barcelona.”

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Persistent rumours in Spain have linked both the Real Madrid coach and the team’s talisman with a move to the Qatari-backed Ligue 1 side. Mourinho’s regular rows with his dressing-room and Ronaldo’s ongoing ‘unhappiness’ regarding his contract situation have been seen as offering PSG an ideal opportunity to pounce.

And the French club’s current biggest star Ibrahimovic says he would welcome the pair with open arms.

“That would be great news for any team as Mourinho is a great coach, among the best in the world, and Cristiano Ronaldo is also among the best players around,” Zlatan told Marca. “But at the moment that is not the reality. People can dream about their arrival and speculate, but until it happens you cannot give an answer.”

The Sweden international also revealed his feelings about the decision of his former coach Pep Guardiola to take charge at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich next season. Ibrahimovic, who did not always see eye to eye with Guardiola during their season together at Barcelona, believes the Catalan coach’s choice of new club has given him a chance to repeat his past success.

“It is his personal decision, what he thinks he should do,” he said. “I think that is the most important. It is a good opportunity that he can take advantage of. It is a big club, with great players and an impressive structure and organisation. The German mentality is different. He has the same opportunity to repeat the work he did in Barcelona. He will be at one of the five best teams in the world.”

PSG face La Liga side Valencia in the Champions League last 16 next month, and Ibrahimovic is expecting a close encounter over the two legs.

“Valencia play good football,” he said. “We must be careful. The first game at the Mestalla will be very important. They are a tough team and we must be very focused. Little details will decide the tie.”

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