Messi to remain at Barcelona until he’s 37 says Bartomeu after he equals Ronaldo’s La Liga hat-trick record
LIONEL MESSI will remain a Barcelona player until he is at least 37, says Camp Nou president Josep Bartomeu.
The Argentine legend notched the 34th La Liga triple of his glittering career on Saturday to help down Celta Vigo in a 4-1 win - levelling his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo's haul of Spanish top-tier hat-tricks in the process.
Messi's display provided yet more evidence, if any was needed, of his enduring quality and Bartomeu says the 32-year-old is welcome to remain with the Catalan giants for as long as he sees fit.
Bartomeu said: "Surely it will be the wish of all parties, if Messi feels strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely.
"He has earned the right to decide when he will stop playing football. But like I said a few weeks ago, he wants to finish his playing career at Barcelona.
"Our leader will continue to be Messi. There is no doubt that he is still young, still strong and he is still ambitious.
"So Leo will still play with us for the next two, three, four or five years. I have no doubts about that."
Messi's latest feat came on a weekend when his old rival Ronaldo could not have experienced more contrasting emotions after he was substituted and left the Juventus Stadium before full-time.
It was the second time in as many games that the Portuguese forward, who has reportedly been asked to apologise for his tantrum by his team-mates, has been given the hook by Maurizio Sarri.
Messi wants to finish his career at Barcelona
Josep Bartomeu
He and Messi have been in a career-long tussle to be remembered as the greatest player of all time, but Bartomeu knows who he believes deserves such an accolade.
He said: "I have no doubt that after Messi finishes his career as a footballer he will remain linked to this club for the rest of his life.
"He is the best player in the history of football and this is where he played. I doubt that anybody else will be able to match his achievements and records."
Bartomeu's assessment of his club's star man is echoed by many in the game and his status as a generational talent was confirmed years ago.
It is a view shared by Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, with the German recently revealing his admiration for Barca's number 10.
The playmaker said: "He is the star player of my generation and the greatest footballer of all-time. I hope we get to watch him play for a few more years.
"All in all, no one has as much quality as Lionel Messi."
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While Bartomeu remains convinced Messi will stick around to add to his 612 career goals for Barcelona - who pay lifetime salaries to all of their European champions - the forward's contract situation is far from resolved.
His current deal runs until 2021 but contains a clause which would allow him to leave on a free in the summer of 2020 should he so choose.
The five-time Ballon D'or winner has, however, stated his desire to win the Champions League, a trophy he last got his hands on in 2015, again with Barcelona.