How Barcelona have set wheels in motion for Lionel Messi's new contract

Barcelona have a defined plan for how they want their star player's contract renewed. They do not what him to leave, obviously, and in little over a year he will be free to negotiate with any side.

Lionel Messi's contract renewal is one of the big jobs Barcelona has on the table. He's signed up until 30 June 2018 and the club are looking to get a deal done sooner, rather than later. In January 2018, little over a year from now, he would be free to negotiate with any other club if he is not signed up to a new deal. 

Barcelona are putting hands to work to create the right climate for him to sign another deal that should see him commit to the club for the rest of his career. At 29 years old, Messi's current deal expires at age 31. Barcelona want him to follow the same process as Andres Iniesta. A one club man. The best player in the history of the club tied to its image. A complete success. 

However, Messi's personality and values are different to those of Iniesta. For Messi what matters are titles and a personal surrounding where he feels comfortable. Three key players are already signed up - Neymar 2021, Mascherano 2019 and Busquets 2021. Others are in the process - Suarez, Rakitic. Six players who, for example, started in the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin. 

Barcelona have already started to make Messi feel as comfortable as possible. After the Copa America he was given a month's holiday. He was in the Bahamas for a week with the family, then to Ibiza and then eventually back to Barcelona. He cut it short himself by coming in to training after that. The club believe Messi is happy in Barcelona, the city where he can live calmly, in the dressing room where his status is respected and he has feeling. 

Bartomeu announced in Manchester that 'we will talk with Messi in two months about his renewal'. The player's main complaint and threat is the situation with the tax office, who have frustrated him and given him a headache. Leo thinks he has been made a scapegoat and is paying the consequences of being an icon of Barcelona and Catalunya. It is something that Barcelona are unable to fight.

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Just six points out of 15 without Messi: The stats that show Argentina need their captain back

The injured star was missed in Merida as the Albiceleste suffered a terrible start before recovering late on, and it is not the first time they have struggled without their skipper

From his team-mates, to schoolteachers and even the country's president: everybody in Argentina pitched in to try and convince Lionel Messi to change his mind after announcing his retirement from international football. 

And when you look at the team's record with and without the captain, that clamor was hardly surprising. 

Argentina dug deep to take a 2-2 draw against Venezuela on Tuesday, with Messi back in Barcelona recovering from an injury. 

It was the fifth match in which he has played no part during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, and his absence has often been sorely felt by the nation. 

With Messi in the team the Albiceleste boast a perfect record, having won three out of three games against Chile, Bolivia and Uruguay, with four goals scored and just one conceded. 

But in the five games he has missed Argentina have won just once, against Colombia in 2015. 

A defeat against Ecuador was followed by draws against Brazil and Paraguay at the start of the qualifying campaign, and Tuesday's result means Edgardo Bauza's team have taken just six points out of the 15 on offer without their talisman, scoring four and conceding five.

Luis Suarez thinks Lionel Messi will reverse Argentina retirement

Luis Suarez believes Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi will reconsider his decision to retire from international football.

Messi called time on his Argentina career last month in the wake of their defeat to Chile in the Copa America final, where Messi was one of those to miss in the penalty shoot-out.

The revelation came as a major shock, with Messi still only 29, but Uruguay striker Suarez feels his fellow South American can still make a contribution to the international game.

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Speaking at press conference on Friday, Suarez said: "The truth is that I cannot imagine Leo not playing with Argentina.

"As a friend and a fan of football I'd like to see him continue with the national team.

Luis Suarez says he cannot imagine Messi will be able to resist Argentina's call

"His love for country is indisputable, but you also have to understand his reaction after losing the final. I think he'll reconsider."

Messi, who has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or five times, is Argentina's record goalscorer with 55 goals in 113 appearances but has failed to win a major trophy with his country despite reaching four finals.

Lionel Messi announced his retirement after Argentina's Copa America defeat

The defeat to Chile in the Copa America is the second final heartbreak Messi has had to deal with after Germany were crowned world champions at the expense of Argentina in 2014.

Messi and Aguero meet Seattle Seahawks' Hauschka and Kearse

With the Argentina squad still in town following their 3-0 Copa America win over Bolivia, a few of the Seattle Seahawks were lucky enough to bump into some football royalty on Wednesday.

Indeed, Steven Hauschka and Jermaine Kearse came over ever so slightly star struck when they were able to grab a quick photo with Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero at the NFL franchise's training complex.

The meeting was especially profound for Hauschka, who spent almost 20 years playing association football before making the jump to the American version.

For what it's worth, Aguero definitely seemed to enjoy himself too.

How nice.

Editor of Who Ate All The Pies (@waatpies), Chris has worked for Shortlist, Metro and a smattering of other football blogs.

Lionel Messi wants Real Madrid to win "nothing" this season as he plots Barcelona league and cup double

Messi and his team-mates are in the box seat to win the Spanish championship on Saturday as they travel to lowly Granada, one point ahead of Real.

Lionel Messi has stirred the rivalry with Real Madrid ahead of this weekend’s La Liga title decider - saying nobody from Barcelona wants to see them win anything.

Messi and his team-mates are in the box seat to win the Spanish championship on Saturday as they travel to lowly Granada, one point ahead of second-place Real.

Zinedine Zidane’s men travel to 13th-placed Deportivo needing to win and hoping Barcelona slip up.

But Messi is confident Luis Enrique’s side will be celebrating on Saturday night - and then says they will become Atletico Madrid fans when Real bid to win the Champions League final in Milan on May 28.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid could yet win La Liga and the Champions League this season

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“For the people of Barcelona, it would be a pleasure to see Atletico win the Champions League,” Messi told ESPN.

"In Barcelona, supporters would prefer to see Real win nothing.

“Atletico are a very uncomfortable and difficult opponent to face, but they and Diego Simeone are there on merit.”

Barcelona play Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final on May 22 and Messi hopes it be celebrating the double.

“We have two finals now, one in the league and one in the cup,” he added.

"A league title is very difficult to win, so you have to win it and then reflect on the achievement and savour it.

"It would be great to end the year with two titles.”

Messi and Ronaldo have duelled for the title of best player in the world for the best part of the last decade, winning the last eight Ballon d'Or awards

Lionel Messi has opened up on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Saturday's El Clasico clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Los Blancos travel to the Nou Camp knowing second spot is their highest realistic finish with the Catalans 10 points clear with just eight games remaining.

Messi and Ronaldo have duelled for the title of best player in the world for the best part of the last decade, winning the last eight Ballon d'Or awards between them.

The relationship between the pair has been under almost constant scrutiny over that period, but the Argentine insists he does not compare himself with Ronaldo, or anyone else, as he continues to break records.

"I have always said that comparisons are a press thing," he told Egyptian TV. "Personally, I try to help my team, play and improve every year. I don't compare myself with Cristiano or with anyone.

Flying: Barca look certain to win La Liga ahead of El Clasico

"We don't know each other personally – only in games. We don't see each other away from the pitch to have a relationship, but that's normal."

Ronaldo has won three Ballon d'Or awards to Messi's five, winning the accolade in 2008, 2013 and 2014.

Messi won each of the four awards between Ronaldo's first and second gong, and reclaimed the title in January this year.

The Barcelona superstar insists his rival has deserved the title on the three occasions the Portuguese has won it.

"When he won them, he deserved to," he added. "He deserves all he has won."

Is Lionel Messi Really the Greatest Ever?

Lionel Andres has broken virtually all existing records. Statistics show he’s the greatest footballer of all time. But critics are always quick to point to the fact that he is yet to win the World Cup, and until he adds the Mundial to his CV, he is still behind Brazil icon, Edson Arantes dos Nascimento, aka, Pele and compatriot-Diego Amando Maradona. The argument over who is the greatest footballer ever will continue to linger,  but facts and figures are there for all to see

Lionel Messi on Monday won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for an incredible fifth time,  reclaiming it from his great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had walked off with the award for the previous two years.The Barcelona and Argentina star took 41.33 per cent of the votes followed by the Portuguese and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (27.76 percent), with Brazil and Barcelona forward Neymar third (7.86 per cent).

"It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d’Or after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win. It’s incredible this is my fifth," said Messi as he accepted the award.
The footballing world has indeed been reacting to the Argentine’s winning his fifth Ballon d'Or.
Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney hailed an 'unbelievable achievement' by Messi. 'Congratulations to Lionel Messi on winning his 5th Ballon d'Or. Unbelievable achievement,' Rooney wrote on his Twitter.
Rooney's predecessor as England skipper, Steven Gerrard, said he thinks Messi is the best to have played the game. 'The best in the world #genius,' Gerrard said on his Instagram page. 'The best ever? I think so.'
Gary Lineker was in agreement with former Liverpool captain Gerrard, saying on his Twitter page: 'The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner is the greatest footballer to ever play the game.'
Former Barcelona midfielder Luis Figo, who infamously departed the Nou Camp for Real Madrid as a player, heralded Messi for his award. 'Congratulations to Messi to the 5th Ballon d'Or,' Figo said. 'Amazing.'
Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas, now at Chelsea, said 'Conrgatulations! You deserve it.'
The media was not left out in eulogising the Argentine superstar. Messi is no stranger to widespread plaudits, but even he may have been surprised by the identities of some of the newspapers celebrating his fifth Ballon d'Or triumph.
Madrid-based publications Marca and AS tend to focus on Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid rather than Messi's achievements - but even for them there was no ignoring the top story on Tuesday.
AS led with the percentage, adding that it was a 'fifth Ballon d'Or for an eternal player' while giving a Real hint with the winner's quote: 'It's special, it's been two years watching Cristiano win.'
Marca's headline is 'Leo V', recognising how  the Argentine reigns in the stratosphere of football with fifth Ballon d'Or'. Again, there is a Madrid touch to the story, with the back of Ronaldo's head shown as he congratulates his rival.
Unsurprisingly, Messi was the lead story for Catalan papers SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, who both focused on the word 'oro', or 'gold', in their coverage.

In France, the 28-year-old is seen in a more relaxed manner on the front of L'Equipe alongside the five awards he has picked up in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
While the Zurich ceremony also got coverage in the English papers, there was a blow for fans who harbour hopes of seeing the world's best player in the Barclays Premier League.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with moves for Messi in the past, but he says he has no intention of leaving Barca even later in his phenomenal career.
'I want to finish my career at home. My home is Barcelona. I've always said that I can't leave Barcelona. It's always my response. My intention is to terminate my career where it started, in Barcelona,' he said.
And while he has now won the Ballon d'Or twice more than any other player, including Ronaldo, the focus is already on pushing for more success.

'Now is not the time to think about whether this is my peak,' Messi added. 'It's more important that we keep trying to win, that we work hard. It's a lot to think about. Football changes so much, a year ago we were all getting criticised and we ended up winning nearly everything. I want to keep succeeding with the club.'
‘The great thing about Messi is that he doesn't really believe he's Messi' wrote the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano. 'And long may it stay that way because that allows him to play with all the joy of a kid just playing in the street.'
The unassuming nature, the 'head down and on to the next game' philosophy that has always enabled Lionel Messi to carry his genius so lightly is certainly part of the magic.
But as he sees his face reflected back at him on those five golden balls it must be more difficult than ever to not think about just what he has become – the greatest of all time.
However, winning his fifth Ballon dÓr award has again propelled the issue of who the best footballer ever is.
Messi has reigned over football long enough for the game to have changed all around him. The organisation that honours him every January has itself fallen, knees finally buckling under the weight of scandal upon scandal.
Its president Sepp Blatter is disgraced and was absent from the latest long lunch, dull speech and back-slapping extravaganza that he so enjoyed season after season. No-one missed him – it just meant there was more stage for Messi.

Winning the Ballon d'Or for the first time fresh-faced and with the tie not quite pulled up to the collar of his shirt in 2009 was one thing, and then to repeat the feat in black velvet, burgundy velvet, and polka-dot tuxedo in the next three years was something else.
But to then watch Cristiano Ronaldo win it in 2013 and 2014 and come back better than ever in 2015 was a statement of consistency and longevity that reminds us of what really separates him from those who would contest that title of all-time best.
Diego Maradona and Pele are the favourites of those who resist the march of Messi-time.
Pele's time seems so far removed from the modern game the comparison is made difficult. It's true he was kicked around in four World Cups and came out with three winners medals, but he never played club football in Europe. 

Lionel Messi vs Athletic Club record: 18 goals in just 25 games

FC Barcelona forward Leo Messi will be nightmare for Athletic Club once again on Sunday at the Camp Nou, 8.30pm. The Argentine has scored 18 goals against Los Leones in 18 games. 

One of the best was in the Copa del Rey final on May 30 2015, an authentic golazo.

Messi has scored in 15 of the games, including three doubles. He has not scored in more games against any other team, level with Atletico Madrid, though he has notched 24 times against the capital club. 

The star will show off his fifth Ballon d'Or to the fans on Sunday, before facing a team he has already scored against this season. Messi scored in the Spanish Super Cup in a 1-1 draw, though Barcelona lost the tie 5-1 on aggregate. 

Messi has 24 goals against Atletico and Sevilla, 21 against Real Madrid, 19 against Osasuna, and Athletic come fifth with 18. He will try to enlargen that last figure in Luis Enrique 300th game as Barcelona coach.

Lionel Messi, Carli Lloyd among nominees for FIFA goal of the year award

Carli Lloyd and Lionel Messi are among the nominees for the FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year.

Messi beat four defenders before scoring Barcelona's first goal against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final.

Lloyd scored for the United States from 50 yards against Japan in the Women's World Cup final.

Other nominees include Juventus striker Carlos Tevez and AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes. Gonzalo Castro, Wendell Lira, David Ball, Marcel Ndjeng, Esteban Ramirez and Alessandro Florenzi were also nominated Friday.

The 10 nominees will be trimmed to three on Nov. 30. The winner will be chosen on Jan. 11, the same day as the Ballon d'Or winner is announced.

Barcelona's Luis Enrique praises Lionel Messi recovery, coy over Clasico return

Lionel Messi is recovering "very well" from his knee injury according to Luis Enrique, but the Barcelona coach suggested the forward would not be rushed into making a return for the Nov. 21 Clasico with Real Madrid.

Messi, 28, was ruled out of action for seven to eight weeks on Sept. 26 after tearing the internal collateral ligament of his left knee early on in the 2-1 win against La Palmas.

Luis Enrique says that while any team would miss the Argentina international -- who scored 58 goals last season to lead Barca to the Treble -- he is pleased with how his side have coped ahead of Sunday's home match against Villarreal.

Asked how Messi's recovery was going, the coach told reporters: "Very well. Is that too short an answer? With Messi we're much stronger, no doubt about it, but we have a great team and lots of resources -- we've taken a step forward. Behind it all is some serious hard work."

On Messi's chances of featuring in the Bernabeu Clasico on Nov. 21, he said: "There's nothing worse for a player than relapse. We want him to recover properly."

Neymar and Luis Suarez have both stepped up in Messi's absence -- the Brazil captain has eight goals and five assists in the eight matches since Messi's injury, while Suarez has scored nine and made two more in that time.

Barca have gone three games without conceding after an early-season run of shipping goals in eight consecutive games -- a situation Luis Enrique is pleased with as the Blaugrana vie for top spot, with Rafa Benitez's Madrid side leading the table on goal difference after 11 games.

"We always review how other teams get at us and try to correct individual mistakes," he added. "We're in one of our better moments, we still have defensive aspects we can improve on -- every defensive situation can be improved."

Barca call the shots, even without Messi

Not even the absence of Leo Messi from Barça's starting line-up caused Atlético to be more assertive. Diego Simeone had planned the game in his own way, as he had announced the day before, and he made no changes to his plan as the match wore on.

The game could only go Barça's way, as it eventually did following Messi's arrival on the field. Atlético were all defence. The four defenders sought (and failed) to keep a tight rein on the three opposing attackers. Further forward,Tiago watched Ivan Rakitic, Gabi kept close to Andrés Iniesta, Óliver tracked Jordi Alba and Koke shadowed Sergi Roberto, while the two Atlético forwards Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres took it in turns to press Sergio Busquets and close off any through passes.

Winning is always a big ask when you play this way, all the more so when Barça pounce so quickly and clinically whenever you slip up and give the ball away. Not even in the best dream scenario, taking the lead, were Atlético capable of controlling the situation. Barça equalised so soon after this that everything went on as before. And then it got worse for Atleti.Messi came on and began to break the defence down at walking pace.

Afforded licence to roam, the Argentine started to find cracks in the defence wherever Atlético had the most men, until he wriggled his way through and decided the game in trademark style.

Messi's Champions League century

Lionel Messi really couldn't be in a much better place right now as he prepares to face Roma in this season's Champions League opener, after having seen off Atlético Madrid just hours after having touched down from the US. Despite having been robbed of hours of sleep following the birth of his second son, 20 minutes were all that it took for the star to score the winner at the Calderón, which he dedicated to his newborn, Mateo.

After a few more days rest and some further training sessions under his belt, Messi will take to Roma's Stadio Olimpico ready to write another chapter in his illustrious career. Wednesday's game will mark his 100th in the Champions League, and we all know that for 'La Pulga', when there is something to be celebrated, the best way to do so is with goals.

Messi has a particular liking for the Champions League. Quite aside from the four times that he has won the tournament, he will always be synonymous with European football's elite club competition. Not only was he the first player to beat Raúl González's tally of 71 goals, to become the competition's all-time top goalscorer, but in addition, the Argentine maestro currently sits top of the goalscoring charts, on 77 goals.

As he reaches the landmark of 100 Champions League appearances, Messi will be keen to maintain the sort of performance levels which have seen him crowned as the Champions League's top scorer on five occasions and named as UEFA's Best Player in Europe twice.

Tim Vickery’s Notes from South America: is Lionel Messi too much of a team player?

What quality did Pele and Diego Maradona have that Lionel Messi lacks?

A disconsolate Lionel Messi walks past the Copa America trophy.

Lionel Messi has now been a senior international player for over a decade; his Argentina debut came against Hungary on August 17th 2005.

It is not an occasion that he can look back upon with a great deal of pleasure.  Just turned 18, he was unleashed as a second half substitute.  He was straight into the action, but after only two minutes he launched himself on one of those characteristic runs, ball tied to his left foot.  An opponent held on to him, dragging him back.  Messi fought to free himself and was absurdly sent off for throwing an elbow.

Dragging Messi back in recent times has been his lack of a senior international title.  He could hardly have come closer, carrying Argentina to narrow defeat in last year’s World Cup final, and then losing out to Chile in a shoot out in the final of this year’s Copa America.  46 goals in 103 caps is a magnificent record, with 29 of them coming in the last 40 games, when he has been the captain.  But the lack of silverware with his country is always brought up in every discussion about his place in the all time pantheon.

The great Tostao, Brazil’s 1970 World Cup centre forward, is in no doubt that his attacking partner Pele was the best ever.  He concedes that Messi is better at setting up the play.  But he believes that Messi “lacks the personal transformation, the fury that Pele and other superstars had in big games and in the greatest difficulties.  Pele was like a cornered animal, uptight when he was unable to do what he liked and what he wanted.  He would try other solutions.”

It is an interesting psychological analysis.  Messi is clearly a quieter, less demonstrative figure than Pele or Diego Maradona.  “He is not self-sufficient,” continues Tostao, “he does not have the absolute lack of modesty which [renowned Brazilian writer] Nelson Rodrigues used to say was Pele’s greatest quality.”

Messi, then, is a player for whom the collective context is all important.  This, in essence, is Tostao’s argument.  He cites a moment in the Copa America final, in the last minute of normal time, when Messi at last managed to turn and slip his markers before launching a run that took him to the edge of the area – where he slipped a pass to Ezequiel Lavezzi on the left.  Lavezzi squared, but Gonzalo Higuain arrived at the far post a fraction of a second too late to steer the ball home.  Tostao calls Messi’s choice of move “correct,” but says that “the other option, to try and complete the move on his own, is what he should have done.  Messi plays with Argentina as he does for Barcelona,” he continues.  “A virtue in his club side, choosing the moment to go for the solo move, is a defect with his country, because it makes him trust too much in the collective game.”

This is also fascinating, but perhaps a little unfair.  It just so happened that at this moment his attacking partners were Lavvezzi and Higuain.  Angel Di Maria had pulled up injured and Sergio Aguero had been substituted, almost certainly an error.  But a collective context where Messi is partnered by a fit and firing Di Maria and Aguero is not radically different from the one he plays in every week for Barcelona.

There is, though, a substantial difference in the context of the team as a whole.  Tostao may well argue that “Messi plays with Argentina as he does for Barcelona.”  But however rich their attacking resources, it cannot be argued that Barcelona play as Argentina do.  There are fundamental differences – the main one being in the positioning of the defensive line.

Barcelona, of course, are known for pressing to win the ball back as soon as they have lost it, with the back four playing high up the field.  Argentina’s current crop of centre backs lack the pace to do anything similar, and so the line tends to drop much deeper.  This obviously has implications on the way Messi plays.  When Argentina win back possession they are often much further from goal than is the case with Barcelona.  Messi has a much greater area of the pitch to cover – which surely helps explain the end of season burn out he seemed to be suffering during the World Cup and in the final of the Copa America.

Lionel Messi has now missed 14 penalties for Barça

The Barça star has missed his first penalty of the season on four occasions now

Lionel Messi missed another penalty on Sunday night as Barcelona kicked off La Liga with a win against Athletic Club. 

It was the 14th spot kick he has missed for the club out of the 63 he has taken. Gorka Iraizoz saved on this occasion to deny Messi his first goal of the new campaign. 

He also missed his first penalty last season. The Argentine star missed against Levante on that occasion, with Jesus Fernandez making the save that time round. 

Messi also missed his first penalty of the 2011-12 season when Sevilla stopper Javi Varas kept him out in the ninth game of the season. The game went on to end 0-0. 

And in 2010-11 he missed his first penalty of the season, too. That time it was Panathinaikos goalkeeper Tzorvas who made the stop. 

In total, he has scored 49 penalties for Barcelona, missing 14, for a success rate of 77.7 percent. 

Messi, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and more star in intense new adidas spot

In this new adidas commercial, Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller demonstrate how much better they are than you on the training ground.

Bale especially comes across as just terrifying. He doesn’t even look like a real person. Like a Transformer or something.

Also like that James haircut. Very fresh.

Lionel Messi is already training for the new season... with his son!

After reaching the Copa América final, Lionel Messi was awarded a longer vacation than the rest of his Barcelona teammates. He deserved a good rest after being the star of a Treble-winning season, plus carrying Argentina on his back all the way to the South American Cup second place finish.

But every world-class athlete, regardless of the sport, takes care of his body even in the offseason. Messi is back home in Catalonia, and he's getting ready by himself to return to the Blaugrana club on Monday to start his preseason preparations with the team.

So Messi took to the treadmill. With Thiago, his son, in the most adorable video you will find on the internet today:

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano return to Barcelona training early

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano have returned to training ahead of schedule for Barcelona as the club prepares for the 2015-16 season.

Argentina internationals Messi and Mascherano were given additional time off after playing at the Copa America in Chile and had been set to join the team in their preseason workouts next Monday.

However, Messi and Mascherano were two of the five players that underwent medicals on Thursday before having individual training sessions.

Dani Alves and Neymar, who played at the Copa America with Brazil, also reported to the club for their health checks -- all four players missed Barca's preseason tour of the U.S.

Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who represented his country at the European Under-21 Championship last month, did accompany Barca on the U.S. tour. He was the fifth player to undergo a medical on Thursday.

The Blaugrana returned to Spain from Washington on Wednesday afternoon and the squad will resume training on Friday.

Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will be the last player to join the team in the preseason on Monday.

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta spoke on Thursday about the team's work ahead of their UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla on Aug. 11 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

"There are positive things and others to improve, like at the start of every season," he said on the club's official website. "We are still trying to prepare ourselves as best we can through training sessions and matches and, beyond results, I think we have to be positive.

"We have been training 20 days, and everything has to be speeded up because competitive matches are coming so that's what we are doing.

"Everything is preparation, but when you are in the competitive stage, you want to come into in the best shape possible with everyone fit.

"We will keep preparing for what's coming, which is important."

Barcelona, coming off a Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League Treble-winning campaign under first-year coach Luis Enrique, then take on Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup final next month.

Barca will compete in the FIFA Club World Cup later this year. If the club win all three trophies, they will replicate the feat achieved in 2009 under Josep Guardiola when capturing six titles in a year.

Lionel Messi embroiled in multi-million dollar controversy

The people of Gabon are not happy with Lionel Messi. Source: AFP

GABON’S presidency has denied paying four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi millions of dollars to lay the foundation stone for a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations stadium.

“The Republic of Gabon denies having paid, or even promised to pay, such a sum of money to the Argentinian international footballer Lionel Messi,” the presidency said in a statement.

The 28-year-old multi-millionaire, who turned up unshaven and in a torn pair of shorts, travelled to Port-Gentil — the nation’s economic capital — at the invitation of President Ali Bongo, according to the statement.

Messi “accompanied the head of state to Port-Gentil to lay the foundation stone for the town’s future stadium, in the perspective of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (which Gabon is hosting).” Messi’s presence at the event last weekend caused controversy on social media, with many Gabonese questioning the cost of his visit to a country where over a third of the population live below the poverty line, despite the nation boasting oil riches.

Messi didn’t exactly dress right for the occasion. Source: AFP

The influential football weekly France Football added fuel to the fire on Monday when it claimed the Barcelona maestro had received 3.5 million euros ($A5.16 million) for an appearance.

“Good move or a communications coup for Ali Bongo?” one person remarked on Twitter, under a photograph of the Gabonese president at the wheel of a convertible Mercedes Jeep driving through the crowds in Libreville, with Messi beside him in the passenger seat.

Messi’s shabby-look prompted a multitude of derisory remarks on Facebook with several Gabonese posting photos of themselves in shorts and flip-flops with a suitcase in one hand and a straw hat on their heads, pretending they were en route to South America.

“Today the Argentinian president is going to drive a taxi-bus and pick us up!” one remark read.

Another image circulating on social media that caught people’s imagination was a remodelled cover of the legendary comic book “Tintin in the Congo” renamed “Tintin Messi in the Gabon”, with the star footballer being driven by Bongo, and Tintin’s ever faithful dog Snowy in the back seat.