Barcelona’s first-team secretary, Robert Fernandez has disclosed that talks over a new contract for Lionel Messi were progressing “very, very well.”
Fernandez said there was no doubt that Messi, playmaker Andres Iniesta and goalkeeper, Marc-Andre Stegen will all tie themselves to the club.
The latest reports in Catalonia claim that Barca president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, is in possession of a firm proposal to extend Messi’s stay and will handle negotiations with the Argentine’s management personally.
There have been speculations that Messi, whose current deal expires in 2018, could decide to leave Camp Nou.
Fernandez told RAC1, “Leo’s renovation is going very well, very well.
“I’m very relaxed, as I was before with Mascherano, Busquets, Suarez or Neymar.
“And I am now with Messi, as I am with Iniesta or Ter Stegen. We’re working and I’m convinced that they’ll continue with Barca.
“It doesn’t matter much who will be the first to renew. There will be people who want to poison the situation, but we’ve been working on this issue for a long time.”
The 29-year-old Argentine captain already has 28 goals and nine assists from 26 appearances this season and Fernandez believes the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could be playing the best football of his career.
“Leo has reached a point where it seems like he plays better than three or five years ago.
“He gets better all the time. He can pull a rabbit from the hat at any moment and in any situation on the pitch.
“If we did a survey among the fans, we’d ask if Messi is better now or before.
“Leo is the best player in the world. There is no doubt. I’ve been close to [Diego] Maradona, [Johan] Cruyff, [Alfredo] Di Stefano… but Leo is different. He’s capable of doing well for many years.”
Comments