Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told RMC he believes Lionel Messi will sign a contract extension and see out his European career at the Camp Nou.
Messi, 29, reportedly told the club he joined as a 13-year-old that he would not discuss his future until the end of his current deal, which expires in summer 2018.
He has been linked with clubs including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, and reports suggest he has a €250 million release clause in his contract.
But Bartomeu said: “I’m sure he’ll sign with us again because we’re talking about the best player in the world, even in the history of football.
“We love having a player like him, who knows how to turn matches and leagues.
“We have to find dates to talk. Messi is still very motivated and very focused, but we’re going to find a moment to talk with him or his agents.”
He said Messi “would like to finish his career with us” but added that he could “perhaps one day leave for Argentina or another continent — he’s free to do that.”
Messi has scored 22 goals in 18 appearances this season, but they trail arch-rivals Real Madrid by three points at the top of La Liga.
“The results are good, so I imagine Real are happy with [coach Zinedine] Zidane’s work,” Bartomeu said.
“He’s a very good coach. They’re a rival team, but he has the respect of the football world in Spain.”
Ten of Messi’s goals have come in the Champions League as he seeks to add a fifth win in the competition to his haul of trophies.
Barcelona will meet Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, with Unai Emery having endured a mixed start to life as coach of the French champions.
But Bartomeu warned: “It’s been a number of years now that we have met them in the Champions League, and each time it’s more and more difficult.
“It will be a closely fought match and we would have preferred other teams, because Paris are one of the best European clubs.
“Their place in the table [third] is not what they would like, but there are very good players at PSG.”
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