Messi remains keen on new Paris St-Germain deal

Paris St-Germain remain Lionel Messi’s preferred club for next season but need to convince him they can continue to be competitive at the top of European football, says Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague.

The 35-year-old Argentina forward is out of contract this summer but is determined to continue in elite European football and is in talks to extend his stay in Paris for another year.

The Barcelona legend has scored 29 goals in 64 games for PSG since leaving the Nou Camp two summers ago and believes he can still compete for the top honours, ruling out the possibility of a return to boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys.

Messi was part of the PSG side who were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, and the World Cup winner wants another realistic chance to win it for the fifth time next season.

Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father and agent, and PSG director Luis Campos have an agreement in principle, says Balague, and talks are continuing.

“At the moment, we are in discussion,” confirmed Campos. “I would like to keep him in this project, I can’t hide it. I would be delighted if he continued. We are discussing at the moment to try to reach the goal and continue to have him with us.”