Football: Barcelona president Bartomeu desperate for Messi to stay

The under-fire Barcelona president is hoping Leo Messi will stay after threatening to leave. Josep Maria Bartomeu: “When I heard that Leo Messi is, well, angry because he wanted to leave the club I’m trying always to explain to him, and to his agent and to his family that Barcelona, we cannot let Leo Messi leave. Why? Because he's the best player in the world and because we’re starting a new project with Ronald Koeman, with new players, where Leo Messi is the key. I understand that he could be angry but we need Leo Messi in Barcelona and I hope that in the coming months Leo Messi will say I’m happy because I stayed in Barcelona and I’m going to renew my contract and I’m going to finish my career at the club in the next few years, so I understand him.