BARCELONA president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident Lionel Messi will sign a new long-term contract with the La Liga giants in the near future.
Talks over a new contract for Lionel Messi have been on-going for the past few months now.
It is understood that Messi has no intentions of leaving Barcelona and will sign a new long-term deal with the club.
And Barcelona president Bartomeu looked to assure fans that their superstar forward is planning on seeing out his playing days at the Camp Nou.
“Messi wants to retire at Barcelona and whenever [the renewal] happens, it will happen,” he told a Barcelona Foundation event.
“For now I refer you to the words of the man himself.”
It was reported in Italy last week that a breakthrough had been made in contract talks between the two parties.
The report claimed Messi will be handed a significant wage increase to a staggering £504,000-a-week.
His release clause would also jump up to £348m, and even in today’s unpredictable transfer market that fee would likely price out a move away from the Camp Nou.
Messi himself confirmed his desire to remain at Barcelona for the entirety of his career earlier this week in an interview with Tencent Sports.
“It’s what I always wanted and dreamed. I would love to finish my career at Barcelona,” Messi said.
Messi moved to Barcelona’s famous academy aged 13 and has since won eight league titles and four Champions League crowns along with an unprecedented five Ballon d’Ors.
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