Lionel Messi: Barcelona captain could remain at Catalan club due to Pedri’s performance
- Lionel Messi has been heavily linked with a move away from Spanish club Barcelona
- The Argentine legend’s contract with the Catalans will lapse at the end of the season
- Reports claim Messi could be convinced to stay due to Pedri’s progress
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Reports from Spain have it that Lionel Messi could eventually decide to sign new deal at Barcelona due to the huge performance of summer signing Pedri.
The Barcelona captain whose contract is billed to lapse at the end of the season has been linked with Premier League club Manchester City as well as Ligue 1 outfit PSG.
He almost left the club last summer after he had tendered his transfer request, but was forced to stay back as the club cited a clause in his contract.
However, latest reports via Mail, as cited in SunSport have it that the Argentine could be convinced to remain with the club due to the progress of Pedri.
Arriving from Las Palmas for just £4.5million, the attacking midfielder wasn't exactly a big-name star signing.
But more so than the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho in recent years, the 18-year-old has hit the ground running.
Source: Getty Images
Club manager Ronald Koeman showered encomiums on the youngster, stating that the player has really impressed him since he became the club manager.
Koeman was appointed by the Catalan club after a poor 2019/2020 season following the departure of embattled Quique Setien.
Since the tactician’s arrival at the Spanish club, several players have left while fresh legs are being injected into the senior team including youth player Ansu Fati.
Barcelona boast a number of talented players including Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann, but Koeman has identified Pedri as the player that has impressed him so far.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that panic has set into the Barcelona squad as club manager Ronald Koeman has told players who have seen less playing time this season to look for another club.
It was gathered that the tactician was specific about out-of-favour midfielder Riqui Puig who has just made two appearances for the Catalans this season.
There are several players who are yet to feature for the squad in recent times and the manager is mincing no words in notifying them of the club’s plans.
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