Lionel Messi lands in Barcelona STILL a free agent before going on holiday again but will sign new contract next week

FREE AGENT Lionel Messi has returned to Barcelona with his family – but only to pack another holiday bag after his sunshine breaks in Miami and the Dominican Republic.

However, the Argentine hero is set to sign a new contract at the Nou Camp next week.

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Lionel Messi landed back in Barcelona – before heading off on another holiday[/caption]

Twitter @tjcope

His family got into the people carrier first before they were driven away[/caption]

The 34-year-old was driven to his home on the exclusive Bellamar residential estate in Castelldefels after touching down in a private plane at Barcelona’s El Prat airport.

Waiting fans and journalists asked ‘are you staying at Barcelona?’ and ‘ready to sign your new contract?’ as he headed for a chauffeur-driven people carrier in a black T-shirt and denim shorts.

His wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children Thiago, eight, Mateo, five, and Ciro, three, were the first into the vehicle, as filmed by Tiempo de Juego.

Lionel stopped briefly to sign a shirt for a fan as police looked on before the Messis were driven away.

The superstar, a free agent since the end of June, is expected to continue his holidays somewhere closer to home before penning a new contract at his boyhood club.

Last year he hired a private yacht which cost £45,000 per week and was spotted off the coast of Ibiza.

Messi has reportedly agreed in principle to take a 50 per cent pay cut at the Nou Camp but will be offered a five-year deal instead of the two years initially expected.

A lower salary for Messi is key to keeping him at the LaLiga side because of its troubled financial situation.

Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, who joined Barcelona in May on a free transfer, is due to report for training on Monday.

But Messi is not expected to resume training until he has finalised a new deal and medical, with Sport reporting an official signing announcement due in the first week of August.

That would mean he could face Cristiano Ronaldo when Juventus play Barcelona in a pre-season friendly on August 8.

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Messi left Barcelona on May 25 to prepare for the Copa America.

Angel Di Maria’s first-half goal in the final against Brazil helped Argentina to their first major title in 28 years.

It was the first for Messi after a string of World Cup and Copa America final losses.

Rex

Messi enjoyed a fine summer on the other side of the Atlantic with Copa America victory and two holidays[/caption]