Notice: Undefined index: banner_ad_width in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 359
Notice: Undefined index: image_width in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 359
Notice: Undefined index: banner_ad_height in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 360
Notice: Undefined index: image_height in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 360
Brazilian icon and Former Barça legend Rivaldo admits he is confident Lionel Messi will sign a new contract with the club following the emergence of Joan Laporta as president.
Messi stunned Barcelona last summer when trying to push for an exit after becoming disillusioned with proceedings both on and off the pitch, but the Catalans held firm.
The Argentine’s future is still in doubt, with the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain showing interest in Leo who has re-discover his best form and have enjoyed a surge in performances in recent times.
The Barcelona legend Rivaldo believes Messi who will be out of contract this summer looks much a happy figure at the club again and claims the arrival of the new president is to thank.
Rivaldo said: ‘Barça have improved massively in the last couple of weeks capitalising on Messi’s superb form and the election of a new president.
‘Messi looks much more happily connected since the arrival of Laporta arrival as president, someone he knows well.
‘For that reason, I’m starting to believe more and more that Messi might reach an agreement with the new board and sign a new contract to stay at the club for a few more years.
‘Messi had a confidence boost with the new president election someone he has a good connection with raising the chances of him considering to stay for a bit longer.’
He had a fractious relationship with the club’s much-maligned former president Josep Bartomeu and tried to push for a free transfer last summer, but Barça insisted that his eye-watering £629million release clause was met by suitors.
The future of Messi will be one of the first points of call for Laporta to address as president after he was appointed at the beginning of March.
Throughout Laporta’s campaign trail, he made prioritising Messi’s future central to his plans with the Argentine even voting himself in the elections.
He has been in imperious form of late for Barça, who now find themselves back in the race for the LaLiga title.
Ronald Koeman’s side currently sit just four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with 10 matches to go, with Real Madrid further two behind.
Vincent Paul
Comment here