'Father signed Messi's new contract'

Barcelona's under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu launched a counter-attack on his critics on Tuesday by insisting a four-year contract extension for Lionel Messi has been signed by the player's agent and father, Jorge Horacio Messi.

Barca announced an agreement with Messi in July, but Messi himself is yet to put pen to paper amid rumours he is unhappy with the running of the club.

Messi's current deal expires in 2018 meaning he could leave Barca for free next summer.

"It is all agreed and signed," Bartomeu said in an interview with Sport.

"There are three contracts: one with Messi's foundation that is signed by the president of the foundation and the player's brother; a contract with Leo Messi's image rights, that his father and administrator of his company have signed; and the work contract that Leo's father has signed."

When pressed on the delay in Messi signing the deal, Bartomeu claimed both the player and club's hectic start to the season was to blame and that it would be resolved within a month.

"There are no problems. All that is left is the protocol of the signature. We are calm," he added.

Bartomeu also described the loss of Neymar as an "opportunity" for Barca to build their team around the midfield rather than a superstar front three.