"Messi's contract is going well; he has an offer but he deserves more"

Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed that contract talks with star man and club captain Leo Messi "are going well, but are not done yet". He said he was "moderately optimistic" that the Argentine would continue at the club. 

"We have made him an offer within our means. I'm sure that Leo deserves more and could get a better contract elsewhere but I'm convinced he appreciates the efforts we are making. I think he is keen to stay. For Leo, it's not about money, it's about winning. And that's what we are working on", Laporta explained.

Messi's contract renewal was one of the most talked-about topics during the president's press conference in the Camp Nou's Auditorio 1899 this Friday, in which he spoke about the current affairs of the Catalan side. Regarding their number 10, Laporta insisted that he was doing "a lot on his part" for him to continue, but that they "need to keep working" to completely convince him.

"The first thing that Leo asks for is care, affection, respect. To feel comfortable, at ease, to smile again and get back to the good times. And to get back to these times, we have to win and see that we can win. And that's all he has in terms of a reflection process", he argued.

In any case, Laporta understands that the player's perception has changed since he became president, and for the better: "Before there was a president that disappointed him, whereas now there is someone who hopes he stays at Barca, and who shows him that as well as tells him". Laporta feels the most important thing for Messi to continue is getting back the ambition that he thinks was lost during Josep Maria Bartomeu's tenure in charge of the club.

"Seeing that there is conformity, that's because of Leo, because he gives everything. Leo wants Barca to think big. When we talk about a competitve team, we talk about him wanting proven experience, proven success. More motivation, more demands. And, with myself as president and the directive beside me, he has that", Laporta concluded regarding the Argentine star.