Sergio Aguero is confident Lionel Messi will stay at Barcelona

New Barcelona signing Sergio Aguero believes Lionel Messi, with whom he shares a close friendship, will stay on at the club for the coming seasons. The 32-year year scored 260 goals for Manchester City and became their all-time leading goal scorer since joining in 2011. The Argentine striker played a crucial role in City winning five Premier League title’s in the last ten years. However, his close friend and international team mate Lionel Messi’s future at the Catalan club is still uncertain.

Messi’s contract with the club expires next month and he hasn’t signed a contract extension yet. The 33-year-old Barcelona legend was on the verge of leaving last summer after a broken relationship with former club president Mari Bartomeu. However, things have changed since then, new President Joan Laporta took charge in March 2021.

Barcelona, who won the Copa del Rey and finished at third place in the recently concluded La Liga had a mediocre season by their high standards. The Spanish giants haven’t won a Champions League since 2015 and lost to PSG in the Round of 16 this season.

Lionel Messi scored 30 goals in the La Liga and won the Pichichi award for a fifth consecutive season. But he looked like a lone warrior for most part of the season and didn’t get enough support. Antonio Griezeman was the second best goal scorer for Barca with 13. Barca hasn’t been able to fill the void created by Luis Suarez’s departure last summer.

Aguero will be hoping to turn their fortunes and play alongside Messi and have more success together. Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero won the gold medal for Argentina at the Beijing Olympics 2008.

“Of course I hope to play with Lionel,” Aguero said after being unveiled by Barcelona on Monday evening. “I know him so well, we’re good friends.

“What happens with Leo is a decision that he and the club will make. It is a pride to play with him. I’ve played with him in the national team.

“If he stays here, which I think he will, we will try to give our best for the club. I’ve spoken with Messi, I speak with him every day.

“But I can’t tell you what we talk about. The last message was that he congratulated me, but we continued to talk about other things, which I can’t share.”

Aguero’s childhood dream come true

Aguero also said he has wanted to play for Barcelona since he was a child and did not hesitate to accept their offer.

He added: “I am very happy, I will try to do my best for the club, help the team win important things. It is an immense joy.

“For me, Barca has always been the best team in the world and Leo [Messi] is also there.

“I told [president Joan] Laporta before that as a boy I said. ‘one day they will surely notice me.’ And here I am. I didn’t imagine it, but anyone runs to sign for Barca.

“When Barcelona asked about me, I didn’t even hesitate. I told my agent that I didn’t want him to talk to another team, only Barca.

“It was an immense joy when they contacted my agent. I’ve been interested since I was 14 years old.”

Aguero is not new to the Spanish top league as he played for Atletico Madrid for five years from 2006 before leaving for Manchester.