Transfer Centre

Josep Maria Bartomeu confident Lionel Messi will remain at Barcelona

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 06 July 2020

Bartomeu confident Messi will remain at Barcelona

Josep Maria Bartomeu says Lionel Messi "wants to continue at Barcelona", despite strong suggestions that the superstar forward is growing unhappy at Camp Nou.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has dismissed reports that Lionel Messi is looking to leave Camp Nou at the end of next season.

The Argentina international, who has spent his entire career in Catalonia, is rumoured to be stalling on extending his contract beyond 2021.

Messi is allegedly irked at a number of off-field issues over the past 12 months, many linked to president Bartomeu's conduct.

However, Bartomeu is confident that the 33-year-old - who brought up his 700th goal for club and country last week - will remain at Barca for many more years to come.

"I'm not going to give details of the negotiations, but he has said many times that he wants to finish his career at Barca," he told Movistar+.

"Right now, we are focused on the competition and there are negotiations with lots of players.

"Messi wants to continue at Barca and he wants to end [his career] here. He has many years left and we're going to enjoy him for a long time."

Manchester City and Juventus are among the sides to have been tipped to move for Messi should he leave Barcelona.