FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has revealed that the Catalan outfit are preparing to offer star winger Lionel Messi a new deal at the Camp Nou, Sky Sports understands.
The Argentina international, who has four years remaining on his current contract, rescued Barcelona from a humiliating home defeat against Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday after netting a second-half brace.
“It finishes in 2016, but it would be irresponsible to not improve his contract,” Rosell told Catalunya Radio.
“You have to think about such things. Right now there is nothing scheduled, but this is a machine that is constantly in motion and things can change at any moment.
“The coaching staff think about next Sunday, we look further down the line and take the more distant future into consideration.
“Work has to start now on the contract that will take effect from 2016.”
Messi, who has netted 21 goals and three assists in 16 appearances for club and country this season, has bagged 20+ goals in each of the past six seasons, including an astonishing tally of 77 goals last term.
Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Argentine ace has scored more goals than games played for both club and county. He’s not a bad player.
Vieira rubbishes Dzeko rumours
According to Sky Sports, Manchester City football development executive Patrick Vieira has denied reports linking Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko with a premature exit from the Etihad Stadium.
Dzeko — who opened the scoring in City’s 3-2 Champions League defeat to Spanish giants Real Madrid on Tuesday — has tallied two goals and one assist in four English Premier League appearances (one start) this season.
“Dzeko to Juve? For us he is a key player,” Vieira told Tuttojuve.com.
“Did you see that goal he scored against Real Madrid? I’m sorry for the Bianconeri fans, but the extraordinary strikers do not move from Manchester.”
Did Vieira take a jab at Cristiano Ronaldo with that last comment? Well, I think he certainly tried too, but the joke is surely on him, especially since Ronaldo scored the match-winning goal at the death against City. In front of 67,000 witnesses may I add.
City coughed up a cool £27 million to lure Dzeko to the Etihad Stadium from German Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg in January 2011.
Despite receiving inconsistent playing time last term, Dzeko managed to score 19 goals for City, including the injury-time equaliser against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season, which set up Sergio Aguero’s infamous title-winning kick.
Now then, will Dzeko finish the 2012-13 season at the Etihad Stadium?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
