Lionel Messi is reportedly more likely to stay at Barcelona than leave the club this summer, following the return of Joan Laporta as club president.
Laporta, who was elected president on Monday, returns for a second reign after his first, between 2003 and 2010, brought unprecedented success with Pep Guardiola as manager and Messi as his talisman.
The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and a reunion with Guardiola or Paris Saint-Germain and a reunion with former Barca teammate Neymar.
However, according to talkSPORT's Spanish football expert Graham Hunter, the chances of Messi staying at the Camp Nou have increased dramatically.
Hunter believes Barcelona will still have to table a strong contract offer to keep the Argentine at the club, which could be challenging given their current financial concerns.
Spanish news outlet El Mundo claimed that the La Liga giants are 'on the verge of bankruptcy', which sees Laporta inheriting a rather difficult situation.
However, Hunter feels that Barca are emerging from their crisis now and have some seriously promising talent emerging as well as a manager and president who can restore good times to the Catalan club.
Oliver Thomas
