Messi keeps Barcelona guessing on future plans

Lionel Messi is set to keep Barcelona guessing on his future plans once again, with the Argentine reluctant to speculate on whether he has another contract left in him.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner left those at Camp Nou sweating when negotiating his last lucrative deal.

He entered the final 12 months of his previous agreement before finally putting pen to a paper in November 2017 on terms through to 2021.

That contract, which includes a €700 million (£632m/$813m) release clause, will take Messi past his 34th birthday.

He has shown no sign of slowing down after reaching his 30s, with the goals continuing to flow in Catalunya, but he is unable to predict the future.

With that in mind, a modern day icon is eager to make the most of the present, telling Catalunya Radio: “I am just thinking about the years that I can keep playing.

“When the moment comes, I will decide.

“I want to finish the contract I have and then we will see if I continue or not. It doesn't worry me right now.

“The club can be calm [when I am gone] if they keep bringing players through the academy and making good signings.”

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Messi emerged through the famed La Masia academy system to become a senior star in Catalunya.

He has spent his entire career to date with Barcelona, with no side having been able to lure him away.

There has been plenty of interest shown down the years, but Messi has shunned it all.

He is, however, prepared to admit that the market is changing and that clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain will continue to cherry pick talent from around the world.

“There are clubs now with a lot of money and players move for that reason,” Messi said.

“Wherever the most money is, that's where they end up going. Things have changed and now the owners of clubs are multi-millionaires.

“Before, everyone wanted to play for Barca or Madrid, who were the best, but now everything's tighter and there's not much of a difference between the teams in Manchester, PSG, Madrid, us, Bayern [Munich], the Italians...”