Barcelona are still confident of tying Lionel Messi down to a fresh contract despite UEFA’s threat of a Champions League ban over the Super League debacle… with Argentine expected to sign new terms after the Copa America
- Barcelona believe a Champions League ban will not change Lionel Messi’s mind
- Messi is currently in Argentina preparing for this summer’s Copa America
- He is alarmed by UEFA’s threat to ban Barcelona for the Super League debacle
- But the signing of Sergio Aguero has been made to keep the captain happy
- Messi is expected to sign fresh terms with Barcelona after the Copa America
Barcelona do not believe a possible Champions League ban from UEFA will change Lionel Messi‘s mind about staying at the Camp Nou.
The Catalan club celebrated 12 years since Lionel Messi scored in the Champions League final in Rome to beat Manchester United on Thursday, and they still expect him to stay for two more years.
Messi is currently in Argentina preparing for the Copa America which will kick-off on June 13 with a game in Buenos Aires against Chile.
Barcelona do not believe a possible Champions League ban will change Lionel Messi’s (pictured in Argentina on Wednesday) mind about staying at the Camp Nou
They still expect him to put pen to paper on a new Barcelona deal after the Copa America
He has been alarmed by UEFA’s threat to punish Barcelona for their on-going commitment to what now amounts to a three-team European Super League.
But they still expect him to put pen to paper on a new Barcelona deal after the Copa America tournament has ended.
The imminent arrival of Sergio Aguero brings one of Messi’s closest friends to the Barcelona dressing room and has been engineered to keep the Barcelona captain happy.
President Joan Laporta is also aware that Messi’s preference on the bench would be for former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola returning to the club, but he knows Guardiola has no intention of returning to coach the first team next season.
Ronald Koeman will stay in charge if Laporta cannot find a convincing replacement.
Thursday marks 12 years since Messi scored in the Champions League final in Rome to help beat Manchester United
President Joan Laporta will give his first press conference since winning the election on Friday
Messi is understood not to be against the Dutchman continuing in the absence of an obvious alternative.
Koeman appears close to getting one of his requested new signings with the agent of Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum back in the offices of the Nou Camp on Thursday.
Koeman wants to start next season with Dutch internationals Wijnaldum and Frenkie de Jong alongside Sergio Busquets, Pedri and Ilaix Moriba as his midfield options.
Manchester City defender Eric Garcia is likely to be announced after the Champions League final and Barcelona could wait until then to confirm Aguero’s arrival.
President Laporta will give his first press conference since winning the March election on Friday morning.
