Josep Maria Bartomeu: 'Lionel Messi will sign new Barcelona deal'

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has suggested that Lionel Messi will sign a new long-term contract.

Messi has spent his entire professional career at Camp Nou, and the Argentine recently put pen to paper on a deal which lasts until the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

However, Bartomeu has claimed that the club legend is likely to formally commit his future to the Catalan giants for the rest of his career.

Bartomeu told RKB: "Leo Messi will continue with us. He is a club player and the relationship will continue forever.

"He has told us that he wants to continue. We have offered him a new contract over five years and I hope we will continue discussing the deal."

Messi has scored a total of 581 goals in 666 appearances for Barcelona since his debut in the 2004-05 season.