Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre has claimed that Lionel Messi wants to stay at the club and that, should he win the elections, the Argentine will sign a new contract.
The 33-year-old's current deal at Camp Nou ends in 2021, with Messi having exclusively revealed to Goal that Barca had previously blocked a move away from the club.
Messi, who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester City, will be able to discuss a free transfer switch to a foreign club when the January transfer window opens although Farre is convinced that he wants to stay.
He told Onda Cero: "Messi wants to stay at Barca. That’s what I know. His family wants to stay at Barcelona and we’re going to work for it.
"I would go as far to say that if we win the elections, Messi will renew his deal. His renewal would be incurred automatically on January 25 if I win the elections the day previous."
Farre also gave his thoughts on the possible signing of Neymar and suggested that he would seek to bring back the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who departed the club in 2017, should he be elected.
While the Catalans have been crippled by financial pressures that have seen them slash their wage bill by close to 50 per cent, Farre believes that a deal can be worked out for the Brazilian.
"Neymar’s signing will be cheap because the investment will be greater than the outlay," he added.
The subject of Neymar’s future has grown increasingly important in Barcelona after he stated that he has a burning desire to play alongside Messi once again, having previously done so during his time at Camp Nou.
The comments subsequently sparked rumours that Messi may move to PSG in the summer, with Brazil international Neymar revealing on Wednesday that he was happy in Paris.
Farre, meanwhile, is one of the outside candidates to win the presidential elections at Barca.
The other candidates are Victor Font, another one of the front runners, as well as Lluis Fernandez and Agusti Benedito.
Latest Stories
-
EduSpots distributes over 100 tablets and laptops to 30 community-led education spaces
2 mins -
Taxation is driving away investors – FABAG General Secretary
20 mins -
Effutu MP commissions office for Hepatitis B; absorbs cost of testing, vaccination and management
38 mins -
Bawumia pushes for land digitisation to tackle land guard menace
45 mins -
Faith-based institutions are instrumental in national development – Bawumia
52 mins -
Upholding the Integrity of Presidential Promises: A call to Ghanaian leaders
1 hour -
I don’t start ‘beefs’; I only reply – Strongman refutes claims
1 hour -
Vice President Bawumia promises reforms to turn Ghana’s fortunes around
1 hour -
REGSEC warns encroachers along Tema-Sakumono Ramsar site as it races to prevent flooding
1 hour -
Kumasi International Airport to be commissioned ahead of time – Transport Ministry
1 hour -
Vomit your loot now or hold onto it and face the consequences – Asiedu Nketiah to Akufo-Addo, NPP
2 hours -
Democracy is going to reverse in West Africa if we don’t tackle economic hardships – Atuguba
2 hours -
Bawumia commissions 124 housing units for victims of Appiatse disaster
2 hours -
Stonebwoy’s The Livingstone Foundation surprises talented autistic boy with gifts
3 hours -
NPP should’ve referred Kingsley Nyarko’s bribery allegation to the police – Inusah Fuseini
3 hours