Barcelona President Wants Lionel Messi to Sign New Contract Amid Retirement Rumours

?Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is desperate for talisman Lionel Messi to sign another contract extension with the Catalan side.

After receiving a record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or recently, Messi hinted about potential retirement, but Bartomeu is eager to pen the attacker to a new deal.

Barça supporters have discovered that their star man is able to leave Camp Nou at the end of each season, with the Argentine holding the cards on when he chooses to depart the La Liga side.

However, in an interview with Catalunya Radio (as quoted by ?Marca), president Bartomeu has revealed he has no fear of losing Messi in the near future.

“I would like ?Messi to sign one more contract [extension],” he said. “He still has a long way to go [before retiring]. He has no problem with staying at Barcelona. I have no doubt that he will play here until he retires.”

Bartomeu continued: “He said that we’ll talk when the seasons go by. It’ll be over when he wants to. For his quality and for being a reference [for Barcelona], I hope I can get Messi to sign a new contract.

“I’ll finish, but Leo still has a long way to go. He’ll have the right to finish when he wants to finish. This is his club, the one of his life.”

The ?Barcelona president admits that football will be different without the greatest player many have ever seen, but he is also excited about the new talent emerging at Camp Nou.

“Messi, who is 32 years old, still has a long way to go,” he said. “We also have the young talents that are coming from La Masia.

“Ansu Fati has renewed [his contract], but there is also [Carles] Alena. Frenkie de Jong has just arrived, [and then there are young players such as Marc-Andre] ?Ter Stegen and [Ousmane] ?Dembele.

“We have to prepare for the future with younger players. The day that Messi stops playing, the game will be different.”

Despite Messi’s stellar performances this season, Barcelona have come under some scrutiny, in particular manager Ernesto Valverde. But when asked about the Barca boss, Bartomeu remained coy on his future.

“He has a contract until 2021,” Bartomeu stated. “In Spring, there is an option in which both he and the club can decide whether to continue [next season] or not.

“Valverde has a contract until the end of my [presidential] term. It will be decided by him or Barcelona.”

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