MX23RW : Tuesday, November 26 19:58:36| >> :120:10272:10272:

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman "not confident" of Lionel Messi stay

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman hopes to see Lionel Messi sign a new deal at Camp Nou, but fears that the Argentina international may move on in the summer.

Ronald Koeman has admitted that he is "not confident" Lionel Messi will stay on at Barcelona beyond this season.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent his entire career at Camp Nou, racking up more than 750 appearances for the La Liga giants.

Messi failed in an attempt to leave the club last summer, but he is out of contract in four months' time and is able to open talks with foreign clubs regarding a free transfer.

Barca had been hopeful of persuading Messi to agree fresh terms, though Koeman cannot guarantee that the Argentina international will remain in Catalonia.

"I'm not confident about that," Koeman told The Athletic when asked if he thinks Messi will stay. "I'm hopeful, yes, because he's still a great player and he's still winning matches for us, for the team.

"I'm enjoying being his coach. If you look at his qualities every day in the training sessions, it's incredible. Of course, he came as a young kid to Barcelona. And I still don't see Leo Messi in another shirt other than the Barca shirt."

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are considered the only two realistic destinations for Messi should he depart Barcelona in the summer.

ID:433399: cacheID:433399:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2952:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi pictured on November 7, 2020
Read Next:
Laporta: 'Messi could stay at Barcelona'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Ravens
30-23
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!