Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is confident that the club can convince Lionel Messi to stay put in Catalonia.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner can enter talks with other clubs from January 1 and is expected to leave when his contract expires in June, having failed to force a move away in the summer.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been touted as two potential destinations for Messi, but Laporta believes that fresh leadership could help convince the Argentine to put pen to paper on a new deal.
Speaking to AS, Laporta said: "They are two things that are the result of poor management. The situation has worsened with COVID, but mismanagement is part of and is the origin of this consequence; having Leo like this.
"The two things are reversible. The situation of the club is reversible and the Leo issue, I hope too. I think the most important thing is that Leo said he will wait for a new president to decide and, therefore, he would be willing to listen to Barca's proposal.
"They told me they would wait until the end of the season. I like to stay with the positive and I think that is very positive."
Laporta is regarded as one of the frontrunners for the presidential vacancy at Barcelona, with the election set to be held on January 24.
Ben Knapton
