The Argentine is likely to leave Camp Nou at the end of 2020-21, with his future a hot topic for all hopefuls of the club’s president
Lionel Messi is the only player who can ensure the value of Barcelona, according to presidential candidate Lluis Fernandez.
Messi wanted to leave Barca last year, due to harassment by the club board and then president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner eventually chose to stay and see his contract, which runs out at the end of the season, before Bartomeu and the entire Barca board retire in October.
There has been talk that Messi could choose to stay at the club he’s been at since 2001, after helping them to 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League.
However, Messi, who celebrated his 500th LaLiga appearance by picking up the Frenkie de Jong winner against Huesca last time out, will not decide until near the end of the season – something that a coach Barca Ronald Koeman wants it not to be a problem.
With the presidential election coming up on January 24, all candidates are outlining the vision for the future of the club, and Fernandez has pledged everything he can to Messi held at Camp Nou, explaining the financial benefits of keeping the 33-year-old old.
“We cannot forget that Barcelona has more revenue because of Messi,” he said Radio Marca . “Barcelona would have less value without Messi.
“He is the only player in the squad who, with his direct presence, ensures that Barcelona has more value and more revenue.
“We need income, but we also need to manage the structure of the club. We need to reconcile the debts.
“However, there is no risk of Barcelona being turned into a limited company. The members can be confident about that.”
Fernandez also wants the club to return to its roots and encourage more players from the famous La Masia academy.
Ansu Fati is the latest off the Barca production line and, if he wins the election, Fernandez will talk to Koeman about the importance of giving youngsters a chance.
“We agree that Ronald Koeman should be given a chance,” Fernandez said. “We need to talk to him because we need to give the players from the academy opportunities.
“A starter has not come out of La Masia since 2011, when Sergi Roberto did that. So we need to talk to Koeman about this and about providing opportunities.
“From next year, we need to encourage young players, because we will not be able to sign as many and we will have to reduce the salary bill.”