By Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed optimism that Lionel Messi will stay at the club.
According to Laporta, he is “convinced” the Argentine isn’t leaving after he scored twice in the team’s thumping 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, AFP reported.
There’s the possibility that his seventh Copa del Rey triumph could be the last trophy he wins for Barca. Though Messi is yet to confirm whether he will stay this summer.
“Leo is the best player in the world, he is a player who is deeply rooted in the club, who loves Barca,” said Laporta after the final in Seville.
“I am convinced that he wants to stay and we already know that we are going to do everything in our power, within the possibilities of the club, to ensure he continues with us. It is what we want the most.”
Messi scored a spectacular goal that he started in his own half at La Cartuja before rounding off the victory with a strike into the corner for his 31st goal of the season.
It is the 13th consecutive campaign that Messi has scored more than 30 goals for Barcelona.
“Leo put on an exhibition today,” Laporta added.
Meanwhile the Barcelona captain is confident of his side’s chances of winning the LaLiga title this season.
With only two points separating Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barca at the top of the table with eight games to go, Messi is now eyeing the league crown.
He said: “It was a difficult year for us so to be able to celebrate this trophy and now to go for La Liga is really important.
“More than anything, it’s been a different year for us, a transition year, with a lot of young players coming in.
“[Now] the team’s getting stronger. We’ve won this trophy and there’s still a long way to go in La Liga. A lot’s going to happen between now and the end of the season.”
