Friday, 28 March 2014

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claims Victor Valdes could yet decide to stay at the club this summer.

Bartomeu hints at possible Barcelona stay for Valdes


Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claims Victor Valdes could yet decide to stay at the club this summer.

Valdes' current contract at Camp Nou is due to expire in June and the Spain international has made it clear in the past that this will be his final season at the club, with Monaco and Manchester City among the clubs linked with his signature.

However, Bartomeu insists he is unaware of any deal Valdes may have reached with another club and says the "doors are open" should he decide to stay when he recovers from the serious knee injury he sustained against Celta.

"We have said to Valdes that the club are at his disposal. At the moment he is concerned about his operation, of course, but he knows that the doors are open to him," he said to COPE.

"We are not aware that he has signed for any club."

Bartomeu also insisted there are no complications with Lionel Messi's proposed new contact, which is set to make him the highest-paid player in the world.

Indeed, according to Bartomeu, it will not be the final deal the Argentine will sign in his career with the Blaugrana.

"He will continue at Barca. It will not be his final contract. I think I'll leave before he does," he said.

"I want Messi to retire at Barca. He is a different player, the best in the world, and we enjoy having him.

"There is no problem with his renewal. We want him to be the best-paid player in the world."

Bartomeu also explained that the club were unable to reveal details over Neymar's controversial transfer to the club initially because of a confidentiality clause, and issued a riposte to Johan Cruyff's claims that the Brazilian's high salary is causing unrest within the squad.

"We couldn't provide the information requested as it was behind a confidentiality clause. And until Neymar's father allowed us, we couldn't do it," he added.

"Neymar is not a player who means more than Barca. He is on the third tier of pay and that will increase.

"Cruyff always has an opinion and you have to listen. Sometimes he nails it, sometimes he doesn't. But as a player and a coach he's a reference point for the club."

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