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Lionel Messi can stay at Barcelona until he retires, says president

Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Almeria
Image: Lionel Messi: Welcome to stay at Barcelona until he retires

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says Lionel Messi can stay at the club until the day he decides to quit football.

The 27-year-old, who has been at Barcelona since he was 13, scored his 400th goal for the club during Saturday's 2-0 win against Valencia.

Messi, linked with a move earlier this season, has shown glimpses of his very best form in recent weeks, helping Barca to the brink of the Champions League semi-finals.

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Club president Bartomeu was asked about the prolific forward on Radio Monte Carlo and said he would like Messi to stay at the club until he retires: "We work with a leader like Messi, who is the best in the world, but also in history.

"He has a place here until he decides to quit football."

Messi has won a glittering array of silverware during his time in the Catalan capital with six Liga titles, three Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, plus four Ballon d'Or crowns.

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Watch highlights of Barcelona v PSG and Bayern Munich v FC Porto, on Sky Sports 5 from 11pm tonight.

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