Barcelona President is “convinced” Messi wants to stay at the club.

Messi is keeping everyone guessing on his future plan but the Barcelona President is “convinced” Messi wants to stay at the club. The 33-year-old Argentine striker scored two goals in the final of the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to lift his seventh Copa title and a record-extending 31st for the club. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Barcelona future has been uncertain since the end of last season after the club refused to leave him under the president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Bartomeu resigned in 2020 and Juan Laporta came in after that. Laporta has a much better relationship with Messi and will be hoping the talisman stays at the club.

Lionel Messi spent his entire career at Barcelona, winning 35 trophies including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey, and four UEFA Champions Leagues. He has scored 665 goals for the Catalan cub in 771 appearances. He wanted to end his career at the club, but things took an ugly turn with the club’s poor performances and his fall out with the team management and former president Josep Bartomeu.

After the final against Athletic Club, Juan Laporta had this to say,  “Leo is the best player in the world, he is a player who is deeply rooted in the club, who loves Barca,”

“I am convinced that he wants to stay and we already know that we are going to do everything in our power, within the possibilities of the club, to ensure he continues with us. It is what we want the most.”

Juan Laporta was present at the stands and it must have been very happy to see Messi enjoying the title triumph, and hoping that it won’t be Messi’s last title with the club.

Barcelona are third in the La Liga Santander, two points adrift the leaders Atletico Madrid. Still very much in the title race despite last week’s El Clasico  loss. Messi is currently the top scorer in the La Liga with 23 goals and has 8 assists to his name.

Lionel Messi has been linked to Manchester City and PSG as these are the only two clubs who can afford the Argentine and Barca’s former coach Pep Guardiola’s presence at Manchester City could make City a preferred destination, if he is to leave.

Messi’s lucrative contract with Barcelona ends on June 30.