The ESPN FC crew join SportsCenter to delve into Barcelona's 3-0 defeat over Juventus in UEFA Champions League Group D action. After watching Barcelona outclass Juventus, Massimiliano Allegri said that it was Lionel Messi who made the difference. The ESPN FC panel credit Ernesto Valverde for getting Barcelona back to their best following Luis Enrique's exit. Lionel Messi scored two goals and set up another as Barcelona defeated last season's UCL finalists Juventus. Barcelona and Lionel Messi dealt swift justice to the team that knocked them out of last year's competition.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has again said that Lionel Messi's father has signed a contract renewal on behalf of the Argentina forward that will keep him at the club until 2021.
Barca announced in July that Messi had agreed a four-year extension to his deal and it would be "signed in the coming weeks, when Messi returns to the team for preseason training."
Since then there has been no official confirmation and rumours had begun to circulate about the 30-year-old's future at the club, leading Bartomeu to claim a deal had been signed earlier this month.
Bartomeu has now spoken to Catalan television to repeat that five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi was committed to the cause at the Camp Nou.
Bartomeu, quoted on Barcelona's official website, told 8TV: "Leo's commitment to Barca is total. His father has signed the renewal and, therefore, the only thing left to do is to take the photograph."
Messi, who has eight La Liga titles, four Champions League wins and five Copa del Rey successes among his list of honours with the Catalan giants, scored twice in the 3-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday. Barcelona are currently top of La Liga after three wins in their opening three games.
Andres Iniesta, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season but Bartomeu is confident the Spain midfielder will also extend his stay at Barca.
"Andres is special for us and for all young players. He is an example as a person and as a player," Bartomeu said.
"We are negotiating with his agent with the intention of giving him an indefinite contract and letting him choose how long he wants to be at the club."
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Source: espn.co.uk