Luis Enrique: I don’t dare predict if Messi will renew

Goal understands that Barcelona are ready to tempt the Argentine with a fresh contract offer but the Catalan club’s head coach is not getting carried away

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique claims he does not dare to predict if Lionel Messi will sign a new contract.

Goal reported on Friday that the Catalan club are set to tempt the forward with a fresh contract offer that could see him spend the rest of his career at Camp Nou.

Messi’s father, Jorge, has flown to Barcelona to take part in discussions as he looks to broker a deal that will make the 29-year-old the world’s best-paid player.

Luis Enrique says any confirmation of an agreement would be a cause for celebration but was reluctant to speculate on whether the talks will be successful.

“It’s good news, of course,” he told a media conference ahead of Barca’s LaLiga game with Osasuna on Saturday.

“I’m quite relaxed about his dad being here. The day that Messi’s renewal is announced will be a day to celebrate. At the moment, I don’t dare predict if he will renew or not.”

Messi’s contract is due to expire in 2018 and rumours of a potential transfer elsewhere in Europe have refused to die down in recent months, with Manchester United and Manchester City among the clubs tentatively linked with a bid.

Barca are expected to announce a new contract for Luis Suarez in the coming weeks, having already tied down Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano and Neymar.