Argentinean superstar Lionel Messi’s future is still hovering in the air and new Barca president Laporta is set to try to convince him to extend his stay at the Nou Camp.
Lionel Messi is reportedly all geared up to hold crunch talks over his future with Joan Laporta in the coming weeks with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract with the Catalan giants expiring at the end of the season.
And there has been a huge amount of speculation as to what happens next, with juggernauts Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain lining up mega-money offers for the Argentinean superstar.
However newly-elected Laporta, having pitched his comeback presidential campaign on the Messi platform, has insisted that his priority is ensuring Messi signs a new deal at the Nou Camp.
And according to The Sun, Messi and his representatives will meet with the new president soon in the near future for crucial discussions.
Although Messi is believed to currently be happy at the club, he still wants assurances over the club’s financial situation going forward if he is to commit to at least another season as Barcelona are saddled with a staggering debt of £1billion and the Barca talisman wants proof that Laporta has a clear plan going forward over how the club are to progress amid such a bleak forecast off the pitch.
Messi is said to be anxious to compete for major international honours in the twilight of his career, and is currently unconvinced whether that will be possible with the Catalinian outfit he has been with for the entirety of his football career so far.
One positive has been Barcelona’s recent resurgence in form domestically despite the recent setback of having been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG, as Ronald Koeman’s side have now gone a superb 16 games unbeaten in La Liga.
And they are now firmly back in serious contention for the title, sitting just six points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.
For now, Messi his maintains his priority is helping his side have a positive end to the season.
But sooner rather than later the best player the football world has ever seen must make a decision as to where he will be playing his football in the next campaign.
And the talks with Laporta could prove to be a key factor in his final choice.