With the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s current deal set to expire in 2021, FC Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu wishes to offer Lionel Messi an ‘indefinite’ contract to see out the rest of his career in Catalonia.

Axar.az reports citing Associated Press, Bartomeu told Joseph Wilson that the club is ‘preparing for the post-Leo Messi era’.

‘In the next two or three seasons, our leader will continue to be Leo Messi,’ said Bartomeu. ‘But it is true that there there are other young players who will come. Players who come from abroad, but also players who come from our La Masia academy. And we are very happy because we are preparing for this era after Messi,’ it was added.

At 32, however, Messi - depending on how he well he can maintain his physical condition - has three to five years left in him that Bartomeu wishes to see played at the outfit that reared him from adolescence.

‘Leo Messi's contract ends in 2021,’ he went on. ‘But it will surely be the will of all parties involved, if they feel strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely,’ finished Bartomeu emphatically.