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Messi said he will end footballing life at FC Barcelona: Bartomeu

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 7/7/2020 9:52:40 AM

Barcelona, July 6 Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that captain Lionel Messi will end his career at the Catalan club, dismissing a report saying the Argentine no longer wishes to renew his current contract when it expires next year. “Messi has said he will end his working and footballing life at Barca,” Bartomeu told Spanish network Movistar after his side beat Villarreal 4- 1 away on Sunday in La Liga. “I’m not going to explain the details because we are focused on the competition and we are negotiating with many players but Messi has explained to us that he wants to stay and so we’re going to enjoy him for much longer.” The 33-year-old Messi, who signed his last contract in 2017, has become more outspoken against the club’s hierarchy in the last year and radio station Cadena Ser said last Thursday he is unhappy with how Barca is being run and wants to leave in 2021. The win against Villarreal kept Barca in the title hunt with La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who hold a fourpoint advantage after beating Athletic Bilbao 1- 0 on Sunday thanks to a late penalty by Sergio Ramos. The spot kick was awarded following a VAR review while Athletic had their own penalty appeal turned down and Bartomeu said the technology was not being applied fairly since the season.