EGX closes in green area on 19 Nov    Sisi calls Dabaa nuclear milestone 'historic' in Egypt's energy future    Egyptian Golf Federation Redraws the Sport's Landscape, Positioning Egypt as a Global Hub for Major Championships    Town Writers Announces a Strategic Partnership With Attaby for Construction and Industry, With Construction Investments Worth EGP 5.1 Billion Over the Next Two Years    Oil prices dip on Wednesday    Egypt scraps parliamentary election results in 19 districts over violations    Abdelatty stresses Egypt's commitment to peaceful conflict resolution    Deep Palestinian divide after UN Security Council backs US ceasefire plan for Gaza    Health minister warns Africa faces 'critical moment' as development aid plunges    Egypt's drug authority discusses market stability with global pharma firms    SCZONE chair launches investment promotion tour in France    Egypt extends Ramses II Tokyo Exhibition as it draws 350k visitors to date    Egypt signs host agreement for Barcelona Convention COP24 in December    Regional diplomacy intensifies as Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens    Egypt's childhood council discusses national nursery survey results    Al-Sisi urges probe into election events, says vote could be cancelled if necessary    Filmmakers, experts to discuss teen mental health at Cairo festival panel    Cairo International Film Festival to premiere 'Malaga Alley,' honour Khaled El Nabawy    Cairo hosts African Union's 5th Awareness Week on Post-Conflict Reconstruction on 19 Nov.    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches National Strategy for Rare Diseases at PHDC'25    Egypt's Al-Sisi ratifies new criminal procedures law after parliament amends it    Egypt adds trachoma elimination to health success track record: WHO    Egypt, Sudan, UN convene to ramp up humanitarian aid in Sudan    Grand Egyptian Museum welcomes over 12,000 visitors on seventh day    Sisi meets Russian security chief to discuss Gaza ceasefire, trade, nuclear projects    Grand Egyptian Museum attracts 18k visitors on first public opening day    'Royalty on the Nile': Grand Ball of Monte-Carlo comes to Cairo    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Omar Hisham Talaat: Media partnership with 'On Sports' key to promoting Egyptian golf tourism    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt will never relinquish historical Nile water rights, PM says    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







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Luis Enrique backs Messi to sign new deal and end career with Barcelona
Published in Ahram Online on 18 - 11 - 2016

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said he believes Lionel Messi will sign a new contract with the Spanish champions despite reports the five times World Player of the Year is stalling over a new deal.
Spanish daily Marca reported this week that the Argentine is in no hurry to pen a new deal, and will instead delay negotiations until right before his current contract expires in June 2018.
"Perhaps it's best if the interested parties respond to this question, but I cannot imagine Messi away from this club," Luis Enrique told a news conference on Friday ahead of Barca's La Liga game with Malaga.
Messi made his debut for Barcelona aged 17, four years after moving to Spain from his home city of Rosario.
The player has said many times he wishes to see out his career at boyhood club Newell's Old Boys, who he supports, but Luis Enrique hopes Barca's all-time top scorer remains at the Nou Camp until he retires.
"It would be wonderful if someone who came here when he was so young could finish his career at the club that gave him his opportunity. That would be the best thing for everyone," added the coach.
Messi was in scintillating form for Argentina on Tuesday, scoring a splendid free kick and providing two assists in a 3-0 win over Colombia as Edgardo Bauza's side bounced back from a humiliating 3-0 defeat to arch rivals Brazil.
"The Leo Messi question is beyond any debate, he is the best player of all time," added Luis Enrique.
The coach's own contract with Barca runs out at the end of the current season and he dodged a question about his own future. Asked if he imagined himself staying at Barca forever, Luis Enrique said: "I have suddenly lost my imagination."
Barca will be boosted by the return of defenders Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba and Jeremy Mathieu against Malaga on Saturday, although captain Andres Iniesta remains injured and Luis Suarez, joint top scorer in the league with Messi on eight goals, is suspended.
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