La Liga chief Javier Tebas has played down concerns Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona and stated the Argentine star was an ‘icon’ in Spanish football.
The 31-year-old has scored 582 goals in 667 games for the Catalan giants and is under contract at the Camp Nou until 2021, having signed a deal in November 2017.
“Messi will stay at Barcelona, he is fundamental to them,” Tebas told reporters, as cited by Marca.
“He transcends what is normal in football and he is an icon for everyone, it is very important that he is in our league because he is on a level above everyone else – he is the greatest player to ever play in Spain.
“Here we always strive for the best, which is why I have always said that Coaches like Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola should come to return to La Liga.
“They are two world classes Coaches who have personalities, they have controversies but also defined styles, that is what our league is about.”
