Menotti: "Messi will reach agreement to stay at Barcelona"

César Luis Menotti, the former Barcelona coach, among many others, and the current national team director in Argentina, is convinced Lionel Messi will extend his contract at Camp Nou and stay in Catalonia until the end of his career. 

"He is still in his peak," Menotti told TyC Sports, highlighting Messi's role and professionalism with both Argentina and Barcelona.

"Messi is more representative of Barcelona's history than (president Josep Maria) Bartomeu," he continued. "It doesn't even cross my mind that they won't fix it.

"Messi doesn't think about the contract when he goes on the pitch. He's still the same on the pitch and in his neighborhood. I don't think it's a financial problem, I don't understand it." 

Messi's current contract expires in 2021 and a report on Cadena Ser this week claimed he is considering leaving when it runs out.

SPORTING CRISIS 

Barça's recent results have seen them slip four points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table. 

"It's evident that (coach) Quique Setien has not found his team still," Menotti said. "But Messi is still the same and it's not in vain that he reached 700 career goals. 

"He is still in his peak, like I said. It's true he's not a kid of 18 anymore, but he's not 50, either. He has a lot of time in front of him still. 

"Those that question Messi and say he doesn't perform for the national team make me laugh. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't even have gone to the last World Cup."