Lionel Messi has Barcelona job for life

Lionel Messi has scored 314 goals in over 350 outings for the Catalans.

BARCELONA president Josep Maria Bartomeu says it is up to Lionel Messi how long he wants to remain at the club.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been with Barca since childhood, scoring 314 goals in over 350 outings for the Catalans.

While Messi is under contract at Camp Nou until June 2018 – with negotiations over a new deal pending – Bartomeu has insisted the 29-year-old will ultimately decide his future.

He told ESPN FC: “[Messi] has all the years he wants [with Barcelona].

“Lionel Messi is the best ever to play football in the history of the world and he plays with us.

“We are very happy, he is very important for the club, he’s very important for the fans, he’s very important for football itself.

“And Lionel Messi in the next coming months of course we are going to talk with him because he knows, he already knows that he has a contract forever. There is not a limit with him.

“The limit will be decided by him and right now he is 29 years old, he is talented, he is ambitious, and he’s in perfect shape to continue for many more years.

“For now, we think we will do it in the next coming months, but Leo Messi will continue in Barcelona, of course.” Kickoff.com

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