Victor Font reveals the plans to convince Messi to stay at Barcelona

Lionel Messi-Barcelona

Barcelona’s presidential candidate wants to keep hold of exit-linked Messi.

Barcelona Presidential candidate Victor Font has revealed the plans to convince Lionel Messi to stay at the Nou Camp.

The Argentine’s contract runs out next summer and he is still coy over his future with the Catalans.

While everything points towards Messi’s exit, Victor Font has laid out his plans on how to keep hold of the Blaugrana skipper.

“When you are lucky enough to have the best player in the world in your team, you need to retain that talent.”

“If Messi goes to a competitor, we will not find an alternative easily as there is no alternative to Messi. So that’s why retaining him in the short-term is critical.

“But for us the association between Messi and Barca is a strategic relationship and we want to make sure we create the right conditions for Messi to play a role in the club even after he retires. Messi could contribute plenty of ideas.”

Font also added that the arrival of former player Xavi Hernandez could appease Messi and convince him to continue with his long-time club.

“Messi needs to be convinced we have a competitive and winning project and Xavi can play a decisive role in us doing that.”

“Xavi’s credibility and know-how about football is the right one to convince someone like Messi.

“They are friends, they know each other, they trust each other and that’s going to be key.”

Messi blatantly expressed his bitterness towards Barca’s former board led by the president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who was cited as the main reason behind the Argentine’s decision to leave the club.

It remains to be seen whether Messi’s attitude towards the new president will change or he could force an exit, with Manchester City and PSG keeping tabs on him.