Lionel Messi works out with stunning wife Antonela in gym as he prepares to sign new five-year Barcelona contract

LIONEL MESSI and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo have been keeping themselves in excellent shape in the gym as he prepares to commit to Barcelona.

The Argentine superstar is on the verge of signing a new five-year deal with the Catalan giants despite rumours he would leave.

Lionel Messi has been working out with his wife ahead of signing a new Barca contract

Instagram @antonelaroccuzzoAntonela Roccuzzo uploaded pictures of the pair in the gym on Instagram[/caption]

And he is not letting his personal standards slip as he worked out with his wife.

Antonela uploaded a video of her dancing in the gym surrounded by weights and equipment.

And the next shot showed her snuggling up to her long-term beau as the posed for a selfie in the mirror.

Messi has reached an agreement in principle to extend his Barcelona contract with a 50 per cent pay cut, according to reports.

The LaLiga giants were unable to get Messi, 34, to sign on the dotted line before his deal expired at the end of last month.

But reports across the Spanish media now indicate that a breakthrough has been reached.

The deal will see the Argentine icon slash his pay by half, to around £1.2million-a-week after the details of his previous contract were leaked earlier this year.

Barcelona will also hold a release clause of just over £300m on the player. The contract is said to last for five years, despite talk of Messi wanting to see out his career with a stint in MLS.

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https://www.instagram.com/antonelaroccuzzo/The pair are childhood sweethearts[/caption]

Some outlets claim there is still a possibility for him to venture Stateside during the contract, which will see him operate as a Blaugrana ambassador.

According to Sport, the striker is willing to accept a pay cut due to the Catalan club’s financial trouble.

Barcelona have been told to severely reduce their wage bill to abide by LaLiga wage limit rules.

An agreement was, however, reportedly delayed as both parties were at pains to ensure the contract’s tax situation was in order.

MESSI’S MARRIAGE TO ANTONELA

Messi married his childhood sweetheart Antonela in July 2017.

She was born Argentina’s third largest city of Rosario, just like her hubby.

Antonela has known the Barcelona star since she was five as her cousin, Lucas Scaglia, was a childhood friend of his.

If Messi has a reputation of being shy, this was certainly not the case in his pursuit of Antonela, as he regularly visited her home from a young age, just to see her.

It is not known how long the pair have been together behind closed doors, but they went public with their relationship in 2008.

The bond between the couple was believed to have strengthened in 2007, when Messi flew back to Rosario to comfort Antonela after the death of her friend.

Antonela initially trained to be a dentist at university. But she ultimately switched to social communication.

In November 2016, she posted on Instagram stating that she had signed a modelling contract with Argentine fashion label Ricky Sarkany.

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