Barcelona (AFP)
FC Barcelona has an "obligation" to extend Lionel Messi's contract, said president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Tuesday in an interview with Catalan radio Rac1, while the future of the Argentine superstar at Barça has been questioned by the press last week.
"Normally, we don't extend to the discussions we have with the players, but it is obvious that we have an obligation to extend it," Bartomeu said of Messi.
"He is the best player in history. He still has many years of football left, and regarding the information that has come out in recent days, I would say that it is still the Cadena Ser," said added president blaugrana.
"Messi plans to leave Barça," Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported on Thursday during its iconic football show "El Larguero". "Right now, Messi's idea is to finish his contract in 2021 and abandon FC Barcelona. Messi has frozen the extension of his contract," said the radio, which said that Messi was "tired" not to see "arrive a winning project".
"I feel calm, he has often said that he wants to retire at Barça," tempered Bartomeu.
Barça president has also argued that coach Quique Setien, hired on January 12 to replace Ernesto Valverde, will remain in office next season.
"Setién will continue, obviously. (...) I am rather satisfied with the progress we are showing on the field, despite the draws. Lately, I have seen a better picture and I hope it will continue like this" , said the Catalan leader.
"I do not regret the replacement of Valverde. The team needed a new impetus. Setien knows our DNA, our model, he brought new ideas and he works a lot," said Bartomeu.
Tuesday in press conference, before the derby against Espanyol Barcelona, Wednesday (20h00 GMT), the coach reacted: "I do not have the feeling that things can change. I know football and its circus for a long time I limit myself to doing my job. I have the impression that the club is satisfied with the work that we do, and I do not evaluate that to the fact that we win or that we lose a match. consider things in perspective ",
Four days before the end of the championship, Barça, second in Liga four points from Real Madrid (77 pts), resumed colors Sunday after his beautiful 4-1 victory at Villarreal, in a candidate for European places, for the 34th day.
© 2020 AFP