Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains confident Lionel Messi will stay with the club despite the fact the forward's contract expired on Wednesday. Messi, 34, is technically a free agent as of July 1, with his contract running down before Barca could finalise terms on a new deal. Last week, Sky Sports News reported the six-time Ballon d'Or winner was in advanced talks regarding a new contract - likely to be two years. Then Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted they would hold him to a €700m release clause, however. Bartomeu went on to resign in October, while Messi wanted to listen to the plans of his successor Laporta before deciding his future.

Source: Sky sports July 01, 2021 09:22 UTC