Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has reassured that Lionel Messi wants to stay at the club and insists that contract talks have begun with the playeers camp.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi’s existing deal is set to expire at the end of next season, with Barca chief executive Oscar Grau admitting on Wednesday a Liga spending cap could prove troublesome in agreeing a renewal.

The Catalan giants sacked director Pere Gratacos after he stated Messi would not be as good without team-mates like Neymar, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta – an opinion deemed not to “coincide with those of the club”.

Despite an increasingly turbulent situation, Bartomeu – who said in December that Messi should be the highest-paid player in the world – remains calm about keeping the 29-year-old at Camp Nou.

“There aren’t any nerves. I want to reassure everyone, I will personally take care of the negotiations with Leo and his family,” he said on Esport3.

“Everything requires time. We want Messi to remain here, but I will not give out any details.

“We are talking with his people. He is the best in the world, he wants to stay here and we want him to as well.