Barcelona star Lionel Messi will stay at the Catalan club for the rest of his career, Barcelona presidentJosep Maria Bartomeuhas revealed.
Speaking toESPN, Bartomeu emphasisedthe importance of keeping the Argentinian wizard at the Nou Camp for the rest of career. Messi has been linked with a reunion with former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, whilst there has also been speculation that he could finish his career with Argentina club side Newell's Old Boys.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu: Lionel Messi has a Barcelona contract for life. https://t.co/mZtySoHWIL pic.twitter.com/DFkvDqejiN
"[Messi] has all the years he wants [with Barcelona]. Lionel Messi is the best ever to play football in the history of the world and he plays with us," Bartomeu told ESPN."And Lionel Messi in the next coming months of course we are going to talk with him because he knows, he already knows that he has a contract forever. There is not a limit with him.
"The limit will be decided by him and right now he is 29 years old, he is talented, he is ambitious, and he's in perfect shape to continue for many more years."
While contract terms are still to be agreed, Bartomeu was confident that Messi would be staying at Barcelona indefinitely for the rest of his career, saying:"For now, we think we will do it in the next coming months, but Leo Messi will continue in Barcelona, of course."
Messi, 29, returned to international duty with Argentina recently in their 1-0 win over Uruguay, in which he scored the winner but also aggravated a groin injury, and Barcelona have not revealed when they expect the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to be back in action.
Safe to say Messi's pup Hulk has, uh, grown up.
(via leomessi/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/VUayLjz7OL