Lionel Messi’s future remains at Barcelona, insists their sporting director Ariedo Braida.
The Argentine star’s contract runs out in 2018 and he is yet to commit to a new a deal with the Spanish league leaders.
But the club’s sporting director is unconcerned, and is certain that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be at Barca for years to come.
‘Barcelona is the perfect place for him. It’s a perfect combination, a perfect marriage,’ Braida told Radio Anch’io Sport.
‘He serves at Barca and vice versa. His life is here, it’s his city. He will not move from here.’
Barcelona are back in action on Wednesday night as they face the daunting task of overturning a 4-0 first-leg defeat in the last 16 of the Champions League against PSG.
Ahead of the midweek fixture at the Nou Camp, Braida is remaining optimistic about his side’s chances with Messi in the mix.
He added: It is very difficult to recover from 4-0, but with a player like Messi nothing is impossible.’
These comments sound a little naive from Braida. Barcelona cannot afford to let the best players in the world leave next summer for free, which means they either have to sign him to a new deal soon, or be prepared to sell him this summer.
Whoever is the new coach of Barcelona, will obviously have a big impact on Messi’s future, but if I was a Barca fan, I would be enjoying every minute of seeing Messi play, because I have a feeling that next season he will be reunited with Pep at Manchester City.