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The Barcelona star has just completed a second successful year with the Spanish giants. Messi was named the Champions League’s best player in 2013, was crowned Europe’s best player of 2014 and also finished top scorer.
Javier Ribalta confirmed yesterday that the 22-year-old, also dubbed Messi of Spain by Sancho at Manchester City’s academy, will be offered a new deal by Barca but admits that the player may want to be on the move if he wants to make his mark.
“We will try to renew Messi’s contract,” Ribalta said.
“At 22, he has no idea of life without Barcelona. If he wants to be like Xavi, [Lionel] Messi or [Andres] Iniesta, that’s up to him. It’s a decision for him.”
And if Messi is not willing to play for Barcelona, the club will definitely look at free agents to fill the void.
“If Messi is not available, we will not sign anybody from a football perspective,” Ribalta added.
“We will evaluate some other players but if Messi is still available, we would love to sign him.
“Until we know if Messi is here, we will not sign anybody else from a football perspective.”
Hollywood, Agent, Agent, Agent
Messi’s father is the most high profile agent in football but he said yesterday that he has no interest in managing his son.
“I am not Messi’s agent,” Sandro Rosell told ESPN FC.
“I know him very well and as a person. And as a professional footballer, I don’t know him.
“He is his own agent. As a footballer, he has worked really well with me and he will always have my respect and gratitude.”
It would seem strange that a young man such as Messi, also referred to as The Little Magician by the Manchester City fan that once slapped him on the back, would never want his own agent.
And if he has been offered one, it seems odd that it would not be true.
“I have spoken with Messi’s agent many times,” agent Leo Gurrilleros said. “But in this case, it is very clear that Messi is not an agent but just a player.”
And if the 32-year-old agent is not that good, then it might just be that Messi would be tempted to leave his long-time agent to make more money elsewhere.
The agent was also quick to clarify that it was Messi who asked to be freed from his contract but has always been willing to work with Barcelona.
“Messi indeed wanted to be free from his contract, but he didn’t have a single conversation with any other club,” he said.
“He has always been willing to be involved in a negotiation process but if the club told him that they would be ready to pay him, Messi would have signed his new contract.
“But the transfer of Neymar has created a big crisis at Barcelona. The club was not able to respond to Messi’s request.