Josep Maria Bartomeu says Lionel Messi might play at Barcelona until he’s 45

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu thinks Lionel Messi will play at the Camp Nou for many more years. Bartomeu believes Messi could even play at the club still he’s 45.

“He might even play until he’s 45, who knows? We know he’ll play three, four, five years more, we don’t know how many – as many as he wants. We’re preparing: players like [Ousmane] Dembele, [Clement] Lenglet, Arthur are there to build a team for when Messi stops playing, but I still see it as a long way off. I don’t think that day is near. And we tell the players who play and train with him: ‘Make the most of every minute.’”

Josep Maria Bartomeu | Source

Of all the players who have the potential to be the Pele of their clubs, Messi was always the leading candidate. After some difficulties in coming to a new contract the last couple of years, it now appears that Messi is set at Barcelona for as long as he pleases.