11-12-2019, 11:11 AM
'Leo Messi will still play with us for the next two, three, four or five years' - Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu reveals
Â
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed Lionel Messi could still be with the Spanish giants for five more seasons despite speculations he might leave the club in the summer.Â
Â
This comes after the Argentine football star revealed that he turned down the offer of a lucrative lifetime contract at Barcelona because he didn't want to be completely tied down by the club.
Â
While he is under contract until 2021, a clause inserted in his current deal could see him leave the Nou Camp for nothing in the summer.Â
Â
Speaking on the situation, Bartomeu told fans that the 32-year-old could be with Barca for another five seasons.Â
Â
'Leo Messi will still play with us for the next two, three, four or five years. I have no doubts about that,' Bartomeu said in the post-match press conference following Barca's 4-1 win over Celta Vigo, in which Messi scored a hat-trick.Â
Â
'Surely it will be the wish of all parties, if he (Lionel Messi) feels strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely,' said Bartomeu.
Â
'Ultimately it is he who must decide. He has earned the right to decide when he will stop playing football. But like he said a few weeks ago, he wants to finish his playing career at Barcelona.
Â
'Over the next two or three seasons, our leader will continue to be Leo Messi. There's no doubt that he is still young, still strong. He is still ambitious.'
Â
'I have no doubt that after Messi finishes his career as a footballer, he will remain linked to this club for the rest of his life,' Bartomeu added.
Â
Â
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed Lionel Messi could still be with the Spanish giants for five more seasons despite speculations he might leave the club in the summer.Â
Â
This comes after the Argentine football star revealed that he turned down the offer of a lucrative lifetime contract at Barcelona because he didn't want to be completely tied down by the club.
Â
While he is under contract until 2021, a clause inserted in his current deal could see him leave the Nou Camp for nothing in the summer.Â
Â
Speaking on the situation, Bartomeu told fans that the 32-year-old could be with Barca for another five seasons.Â
Â
'Leo Messi will still play with us for the next two, three, four or five years. I have no doubts about that,' Bartomeu said in the post-match press conference following Barca's 4-1 win over Celta Vigo, in which Messi scored a hat-trick.Â
Â
'Surely it will be the wish of all parties, if he (Lionel Messi) feels strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely,' said Bartomeu.
Â
'Ultimately it is he who must decide. He has earned the right to decide when he will stop playing football. But like he said a few weeks ago, he wants to finish his playing career at Barcelona.
Â
'Over the next two or three seasons, our leader will continue to be Leo Messi. There's no doubt that he is still young, still strong. He is still ambitious.'
Â
'I have no doubt that after Messi finishes his career as a footballer, he will remain linked to this club for the rest of his life,' Bartomeu added.
Â