Suarez wants new Barca deal for Messi

Star striker has only 18 months left in his current contract with Catalan giants


Afp January 12, 2017
PHOTO: REUTERS

BARCELONA: Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has hit back at comments by the club's CEO that the Catalan giants won't "go crazy" when negotiating a new contract with the five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

Barca CEO Oscar Grau said on Wednesday that a new deal for Messi, who has 18 months left on his current deal, was being negotiated with "common sense and discretion".

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"With Messi what you have to do is give him a new contract, not have common sense," said Suarez after scoring his 100th Barca goal in a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

Despite posting a record turnover of €679 million last season, a series of expensive new contracts for the likes of Neymar and Suarez mean Barcelona are close to overstepping the 70% limit of turnover spent on salaries imposed by UEFA's financial fair-play laws.

Barca captain Andres Iniesta also has just 18 months left to run on his contract.

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Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has also backed Suarez’s words and praised the Argentine striker, who was once again the difference on Wednesday night as he scored from a free-kick for the third time in as many games to help hosts edge out Bilbao 4-3 on aggregate.

"I don't know what the CEO said, but tell me one game in which Leo Messi hasn't been decisive," said Barca coach Luis Enrique. "I don't know about numbers, I know about football. We all want to enjoy watching Messi here for many more years, nothing else matters for me."

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