Joan Laporta confident of Lionel Messi stay at Barcelona

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta is confident that the club can convince Lionel Messi to stay put in Catalonia.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner can enter talks with other clubs from January 1 and is expected to leave when his contract expires in June, having failed to force a move away in the summer.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have been touted as two potential destinations for Messi, but Laporta believes that fresh leadership could help convince the Argentine to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Speaking to AS, Laporta said: "They are two things that are the result of poor management. The situation has worsened with COVID, but mismanagement is part of and is the origin of this consequence; having Leo like this.

"The two things are reversible. The situation of the club is reversible and the Leo issue, I hope too. I think the most important thing is that Leo said he will wait for a new president to decide and, therefore, he would be willing to listen to Barca's proposal.

"They told me they would wait until the end of the season. I like to stay with the positive and I think that is very positive."

Laporta is regarded as one of the frontrunners for the presidential vacancy at Barcelona, with the election set to be held on January 24.