FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.08.2009 11:30

Laporta: “we’re working to improve Messi’s contract”

David Saura (special correspondent)

Club President Joan Laporta admitted that Barca were working to improve Leo Messi’s contract and the negotiations were: “coming along fine”. Club representatives spoke to the player’s father about the situation during the stay in LA.

Following the Seattle Sounders and UNICEF event, Joan Laporta spoke about the negotiations to improve Leo Messi’s contract: “there’s a very good relation between both parts. They know that we want the player to feel happy here, he’s a great player, a home grown lad and we’re proud to have him, the best player in the world with us at the club. The negotiations are coming along fine”.

Mutual commitment

For the President, the main guarantee of success in the negotiations is the commitment from both sides: “Barca will always do whatever is needed to keep him happy here and we know that he has a real commitment to Barca, which has to be reflected in how we treat him at all levels. The club will always honour that commitment and love that he has for Barca”.

Team leader

Laporta stressed that: “Messi has become a leader this season and that has been possible thanks to the skill of his manager and the fact that the staff have worked to build a great squad”. Laporta also praised the work Diego Armando Maradona had put in with Messi as Argentina manager.

“Market wide open”

As to more transfers, Laporta explained: “the market is wide open and there may still be things going to happen, but we will not stretch ourselves beyond our means. We will act responsibly”.

Despite the difficulties of the inflated market, Laporta insisted: “we’ve given a boost to our attacking options with the arrival of Ibrahimovic, which is what the manager asked for”.

Happy with the youngsters

The performance of the home grown players has also pleased Laporta: “they are an expression of our identity. Guardiola has had the courage and vision to bring them in; he understands what this club means. This way of viewing the game means our club is viable and sustainable”.