Barcelona Are Confident Lionel Messi Will Sign New Deal

Amidst several speculations that Barcelona's star player Lionel Messi might be considering leaving the club, the club remains confident the attacker will remain at Nou Camp and sign a new deal.

 

Messi was critical of his team performance over losing La Liga title bid to their rivals Real Madrid, who overtook them to lead the table and finished the season as the champions. It was obvious there is some sort of frustration on his part at the club.

Nevertheless, Barca's president Josep Maria Bartomeu has expressed his confidence in the Argentine to yet print his signature on a deal, and as for him, Nou Camp is where he believes the player would end his career as he has often mentioned. 

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Bartomeu explained saying, "Messi has said many times that he wants to retire here and I have no doubt that he will re-sign."

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is the highest-paid player in Europe with weekly earnings of £646,000 (annual of £36m) from a contract that has just a season left to run. Manchester City and PSG are amongst clubs that have shown interest in signing him. 

If a deal agreement failed to yield between the player and the club, he stands to leave as a free agent as his contract allows him to do so provided he notifies the club a month earlier. 

Bartomeu went further to explain that the club is "making decisions" regarding its player and that"if they do not come as part of a player exchange, it is very difficult for them to come."