Barca boss keen to re-sign Messi
Print Edition
Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu responded to a storm of speculation by saying yesterday that the club had 鈥渁n obligation to re-sign鈥 Lionel Messi, calling him 鈥渢he best player in history.鈥
鈥淣ormally we do not explain the discussions with players but it is evident that we have the obligation to re-sign him,鈥 Bartomeu told Catalan radio station Rac1. 鈥淗e is the best player in history. He has many years of football left.鈥
Bartomeu also said coach Quique Setien would keep his job despite a run of unconvincing form since La Liga鈥檚 restart that has seen the reigning champion lose top spot to Real Madrid.
The president said he was happy with the direction of the club and maintained he had been right to replace Ernesto Valverde in January.
Last week, another radio station, Cadena Ser, reported that Messi had broken off negotiations on extending his contract, which runs until 2021, and was thinking of leaving Barcelona.
The report said Messi was frustrated with the club鈥檚 failure to build a winning squad and was tired of leaks from the club which paint him in a bad light. He was also reportedly upset at reports that the players had got Valverde fired.
But Bartomeu said: 鈥淚 see a relaxed Leo... He has said many times that he wants to finish (his career) at Barca.鈥
Bartomeu, who must stand down in 2021, insisted that he sees Messi 鈥渞etiring at Barca under another president because he will sign for another spell.鈥
Bartomeu said he spoke to his captain on Saturday. 鈥淚 talk to the players very often. Not only with Leo, but also with the group, especially the captains.鈥
Before beating Villarreal 4-1 on Sunday, Barcelona had drawn three of its previous four matches and slipped four points behind Real in the title race, putting Setien under pressure.
鈥淪etien will continue, of course,鈥 said Bartomeu. 鈥淚 am quite happy with the development we showed in the games despite the draws. I do not regret the change of Valverde. The team needed a boost. Setien knows our DNA, the model and he has brought fresh air and new ideas and is working hard.鈥
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
