* Argentina forward extends contract by two years to 2016
* Spanish media says net salary will be 10.5 million euros
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MADRID, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has signed a two-year contract extension with the European champions until 2016, the club said on Friday.
The Argentina international's improved deal includes a buyout clause worth 250 million euros ($368 million), the club said on their website (
www.fcbarcelona.cat).
Barca president Joan Laporta said this week the 22-year-old, a favourite to win this year's FIFA World Player of the Year award, was poised to agree a new contract that would make him the club's best-paid player.
Barca gave no details of Messi's annual net salary but Spanish media reported he would be earning 10.5 million euros ($15.44 million) per season
after taxes.