Lionel Messi: Gerard Pique Wants Argentine to Extend His Barca Deal

- Lionel Messi is yet to commit his future to Barcelona

- The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has less than eight months on his current deal with them

- Pique believes the club will all they can to keep the Argentine at Camp Nou

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Spanish defender Gerard Pique is hoping Lionel Messi will remain at Barcelona beyond the summer of 2021.

The 33-year-old's current deal with the Catalans expires at the end of the ongoing season with no clear plans on signing a new deal with them.

He made attempts to force a move out of the Nou Camp in August but later made a U-turn to see out his deal with the club.

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Manchester City and Inter Milan were among the front runners for the signature of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner earlier in the year.

However, the former Manchester United player is confident the Blaugrana would do all they can to persuade the Argentine to extend his stay at the club.

Daily Mail reports that the winger handed Barca his transfer request after their 8-2 humiliation in the hands of Bayern Munich - a disaster which also forced the club to sack Quique Setien.

Meanwhile, Pique, while answering questions for the CRIS Cancer Foundation was asked if Messi would remain at the Catalan club beyond the summer, he said:

"You will have to ask Leo, I don't know. We hope he stays. It's a personal decision.

"We will see. But for as long as he's wearing the Barca shirt, there is always hope. We hope to seduce him to stay for many more years."

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The Catalans will hope they can kick off the process of getting the Argentine to sign a new deal once they sought their presidential issues through elections in January 2021.

They currently have no specific leader after Josep Bartomeu was forced out of office through votes of no confidence.

Meanwhile was not part of his side's 4-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League during the week but he is expected to start against Osasuna on Sunday. He said in a news conference on Saturday.

"Messi had a good break this week, as did Frenkie de Jong. Both had played nearly every minute for us this season, in addition to many games with their national teams.

"They can't keep going and going and going. To avoid problems, we left them at home in midweek. But we will need them (against Osasuna)."

Legit.ng earlier reported that Barcelona may have found a way to keep Lionel Messi at the club beyond next summer as their presidential hopeful Emili Rousaud considers naming Camp Nou after him if elected next year.

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The 33-year-old's current deal with the Catalans expires at the end of this season and there are indications he is likely not to renew.

Although many believe the six-time Ballon d'Or winner will not leave the La Liga outfit next summer, his refusal to commit his future to them is something to worry about.

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