BARCELONA: With a month left on Lionel Messi's contract, club president Joan Laporta said he is ‘moderately optimistic’ that Barcelona’s greatest player will stay put.

“There will be a new contract for Messi, but it is not done yet,” Laporta said on Friday in his first news conference since he started his second stint in charge of the Spanish powerhouses.

Last summer, Messi wanted to leave the club following a season without a title but was denied an exit. He said in December that he would postpone a decision on his future once the season had ended. Messi’s contract expires on June 30.

“We can make an offer within our means,” said Laporta. “He deserves more and could get a better contract somewhere else but I’m convinced he appreciates the efforts we are making. I think he is keen to stay. For Leo, it’s not about money, it’s about winning. And that’s what we are working on.”

Asked how optimistic he is that Messi will stay, Laporta answered: “Moderately optimistic.”

Laporta did not reveal what salary the club can offer Messi, saying that Barca are still carrying out an internal audit with its finances hard hit by 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) of debt and 350 million euros ($426 million) in losses this season.

Laporta successfully led Barcelona from 2003-2010 when Messi was blossoming into a star. He returned to power after winning club elections in March following the resignation of predecessor Josep Bartomeu.

The 33-year-old Messi has led Barcelona to four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles.

Barca finished La Liga in third place and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16. Their only title was the Copa del Rey.

Laporta also remained defiant over Barca’s continuing membership of the European Super League, insisting they will not apologise and will take UEFA to court if fines are imposed on the three remaining clubs.

Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus are the last ones standing of the 12 clubs that signed up to the breakaway project in April, only for it to unravel when all six English sides plus Inter Milan, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid withdrew.

UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Barca, Real and Juve on Tuesday, prompting the three clubs to issue joint statements saying they would not bow down to pressure from the governing body.

“I’ve told [UEFA president Aleksander] Ceferin that we aren’t going to say sorry. And we don’t plan on paying any sanction,” Laporta said.

“If we are sanctioned we’ll go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2021