- Josep Bartomeu is confident Lionel Messi will sign new contract with the club
- Messi's contract expires at the summer of 2021
- The 30-year-old scored his first goal against Chelsea in Tuesday's Champions League encounter at the Stamford Bridge
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu is confident Argentine’s Lionel Messi will extend his stay at the Camp Nou when his current contract expires in the summer of 2021.
The 30-year-old scored his side’s only goal in their 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their Uefa Champions League clash on Tuesday, February 20.
To extend his goal tally in all competitions to 28 in all competitions, as the Catalans are still in contention for a quadruple this season.
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And Bartomeu is hoping the player will retire at the club by getting him to sign a contract extension at the expiration of his current deal.
He added that they (Barca) are hoping to idolize the Argentina international, owing to his contributions to the success of the team during his reign.
"We are a club that bets on good football," Bartomeu told Bloomberg.
"We have a unique style of play and Messi is the best player in the world, our key player.
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"Andres Iniesta is an example. We want him here not as a player, but as a legend in the future. And with Messi I hope it's the same. Now he's got a four-year contract, but I don't think it will be his last [with Barca]."
Messi has made 621 appearances for Barca in over 13 years - scoring 535 goals with 244 assists to his credit in all competitions, and has won over 30 major titles at the club, including four Champions League titles and three Fifa Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, his goal against Chelsea in Tuesday’s Champions League was his first goal against the Blues in his last nine appearances against the Premier League club.
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Source: Sports.naija.ng