Luis Enrique departure will not impact Messi contract

Posted Thursday, March 02, 2017 by Goal.com

The Argentina superstar's contract situation with the Catalan club will not be impacted buy the manager's decision to step down

Lionel Messi's contract situation at Barcelona will not be influenced by Luis Enrique's decision to step down as manager of the club, Goal understands.

Enrique confirmed that he will leave the Catalan club after guiding his team to a 6-1 win against Sporting Gijon, a result which saw the club climb back to the top of the Liga table.

Barcelona fans should thank Luis Enrique

Messi has been in contract talks since the start of 2017 but there have been no new developments in recent weeks, and sources close to the player say that the departure of Enrique will have no impact on Messi signing a new deal.

The same sources also say that the Barca squad, with Messi at the head, are "very comfortable" with Luis Enrique and that the manager's choice to leave the club has nothing to do with discontent.

Lionel Messi's contract situation at Barcelona will not be influenced by Luis Enrique's decision to step down as manager of the club, Goal understands.

Enrique confirmed that he will leave the Catalan club after guiding his team to a 6-1 win against Sporting Gijon, a result which saw the club climb back to the top of the Liga table.

Barcelona fans should thank Luis Enrique

The same sources also say that the Barca squad, with Messi at the head, are "very comfortable" with Luis Enrique and that the manager's choice to leave the club has nothing to do with discontent.

The club has backed the manager's choice to step down at the end of the season as well.

"Luis Enrique has brought us great success and he can still bring us more," club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said. "The players are motivated to do it.

"We accept Luis Enrique's decision. He has been a great coach. Now is it time to end his spell in the best possible way."