Barcelona president Joan Laporta repeated yesterday that negotiations with Lionel Messi “are going well”, less than a month before the Argentine star’s club contract expires. “We are in talks with Leo’s representatives,” Laporta said at the official presentation of centre-back Eric Garcia, who has joined from Manchester City, as a Barcelona player. “I said it the other day, it’s going well and we hope they continue to make progress. We want to agree a new contract with Leo. It’s going well, but it’s not done.”
Messi’s contract with Barcelona expires on June 30. Laporta said signing Messi to a new contract did not depend on the outcome of an audit the club is carrying out to find out the exact state of its finances.
“We more or less already have the results for this year under control. This audit, when we finish it in July, will give us more data, but for this deal in particular, we had already made a provision, we had prepared a strategy,” Laporta said.
“I have always said that the Leo issue is not a money issue for his part,” said Laporta. “He is showing a lot of understanding, and it is not a question of money, he wants to continue with this process and wants to have a competitive team with which to win Champions League and league titles. None of the signings we are making are being made in relation to these negotiations. We know that Leo wants to stay, but he has other offers.”
Laporta drew a parallel with Garcia, saying the player, a free agent, had other offers but chose Barcelona. “Leo is in a similar situation with his desire to play for Barca. I hope that will also be decisive.”
Garcia is a second new arrival at the Camp Nou this week from Manchester City following Sergio Aguero. Both players will join when their contracts expires at the end of June.
He also said that more new arrivals were imminent, and that the squad overhaul was designed to show Messi they can compete.  Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and Lyon striker Memphis Depay — both out of contract this summer — have been heavily linked to the Catalan capital.
Laporta reiterated that talks with manager Ronald Koeman over the Dutchman’s future at the club are on the right track.
The Barcelona president also admitted that the scenario of Koeman staying the Blaugrana seems more possible than the club appointing another coach.
“[I see option] one [being] more [possible] than [option] two,” said Laporta, with the first option being Koeman continuing at Barcelona and the second being the club replacing him with another coach.
“Talks are going very well. It won’t take you long to find out. I already said that a period of reflection was starting that I think it has gone very well. I am not going to reveal the conversations we are having. I am comfortable with Koeman and I hope he is comfortable with me. Conversations will lead us to the best solution for Barcelona.”
While Laporta has made clear that the Dutchman is aware of Barcelona’s moves in the transfer market, Koeman has remained silent. The 58-year-old coach spent a few days on holidays in Amsterdam before returning to Barcelona on Monday.