Barcelona president speaks out on Lionel Messi’s future

 
Lionel Messi will sign a new contract and remain at Barcelona till the end of his career, according to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The BBC reported that the Argentinian superstar, whose current deal expires in 2018, is yet to agree new terms, after rumours circulated this week that he had rejected the Spanish champions’ latest offer.
However, Bartomeu moved quickly to play down any significance of these reports.
“I believe we’ve got a team with incredible players, all of them”, he said at the announcement of the club’s new shirt deal, with Japanese technology company Rakuten.
“There is nonetheless a leader of course, Leo Messi, he is well known and popular all over the world.  We’re all convinced, we’re all positive Leo Messi will end his sporting career in Barca.”
Spanish newspaper Marca had claimed that Messi turned down Barcelona’s contract offer due to his ongoing problems with the Spanish tax authorities.
Back in July, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence for tax evasion after he and his father were found guilty of hiding more than £3 million of his fortune in tax havens in Uruguay and Belize.
Widely considered to be the best-ever footballer, Messi has once again been in scintillating form this season, with 16 goals and seven assists in his 14 appearances, as Barcelona look to retain their La Liga title.