Bartomeu: Messi Will Stay at Barca for 5 More Years

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi could end up staying at the club for another five years.

Even at the ripe old age of 32, Messi continues to set new standards of excellence in La Liga and the Champions League , with two years left to run on his current contract at Camp Nou.

There is a clause included in the Argentina international's deal which gives him the option to leave Barca for nothing at the end of each season, with preparations already being made for his departure behind the scenes.

Bartomeu is not worried about Messi's long-term future in Cataluyna, however, with it his belief that a talismanic superstar will still be on the club's books for many years to come.

"Surely it will be the wish of all parties, if he [Messi] feels strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely," Bartomeu began.

"Ultimately it is he who must decide. He has earned the right to decide when he will stop playing football. But like he said a few weeks ago, he wants to finish his playing career at Barcelona.

"Over the next two or three seasons, our leader will continue to be Leo Messi. There's no doubt that he is still young, still strong. He is still ambitious.

"So Leo Messi will still play with us for the next two, three, four or five years. I have no doubts about that."