International

Lionel Messi WILL sign a new deal with Barcelona this season, according to the club's sporting director.

In an exclusive interview with Spanish publication Sport, Robert Fernandez spoke on a range of issues, including that of Messi's contract which is currently set to expire at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Barca have already agreed new deals with Neymar, Rafinha, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano, and Fernandez insists Messi will be next in line.

"The president [Josep Maria Bartomeu] has already said," Fernandez explained. "This year there are a number of situations we need to solve.

"As was the case with Rafinha, Busquets, Neymar and Mascherano, people said we wouldn't reach an agreement, but in the end there were no problems.