‘If we win, Lionel Messi will renew his contract,’ says Barcelona presidential candidate

Club captain expressed his desire to leave in August and his deal is set to expire at the end of the season

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Jordi Farre has expressed his confidence in tying down Lionel Messi to a new contract if the Barcelona presidential candidate is to win the club’s upcoming election.

Farre is running against Victor Font, Toni Freixa, Joan Laporta and Lluis Fernandez as January’s election approaches, and a key question for each candidate has been how they will solve the issue around Messi’s future.

The club captain is entering the last six months of his existing deal and announced in August his desire to leave Barca, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain touted as potential destinations for the Argentina forward.

Messi’s wish to avoid a legal dispute with the club at which he has spent his entire professional career led him to decide to stay this season, though then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned following the saga, but an exit could be possible next summer when the 33-year-old’s contract expires.

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Farre is confident, however, that such a scenario will not arise if he is elected president of the Balugrana.

“If we win the elections in January, Leo will renew his contract on the 25th,” Farre is reported as having told Onda Cero.

“He is the best player in the history of football and we have to offer him an exciting project.

“We will be capable of motivating him and, the day after becoming president, I hope to have him renewed.”

Man City manager Pep Guardiola last month signed a two-year contract extension, potentially increasing the chances of Messi moving to the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Messi played under Guardiola at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, winning two Champions League trophies, three La Liga titles and two Copa del Reys.