Messi signs new contract with FC Barcelona until 2021

The five-times world player of the year agreed the new contract with Barcelona in July but the Catalan club did not release the usual photo of the player putting pen to paper, fuelling speculation he could depart in June 2018.

Football legend Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with FC Barcelona until 2021, the La Liga leaders confirmed, ending speculation that the five-times world player of the year could leave the club where he has spent his entire career next June.

"FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi signed on Saturday morning a new contract that will keep the Argentine superstar at the Club through the 2020/21 season," said a statement from Barca, posting a picture of Messi signing the deal alongside president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

"The buyout clause was set at 700 million euros ($835.10 million)."

Catalan leader under pressure to drop independence bid

Catalonia's secessionist leader came under intense pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain after hundreds of thousands of unionists took to the streets at the weekend to protest against the region breaking away.

Spain fears the Catalan parliament will vote for independence on Tuesday, when Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is due to address the assembly in the wake of a banned October 1 referendum in which Catalan officials say people voted overwhelmingly for secession.

Under Catalonia's referendum law, deemed unconstitutional by Madrid, a vote for independence on Tuesday would start a six-month process that would envisage divorce talks with Spain before regional elections and a final act of separation.

But the Spanish government, buoyed by Sunday's protests in Barcelona, the Catalan capital, made it clear on Monday it would respond immediately to any such vote.

"I'm calling on the sensible people in the Catalan government ... don't jump off the edge because you'll take the people with you," Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaría said in an interview with COPE radio station.

"If there is a unilateral declaration of independence there will be decisions made to restore law and democracy."