Lionel Messi Tight-Lipped on Barca Future as Megastar Scoops 4th Golden Shoe Award
Lionel Messi has refused to answer any questions relating to his Barcelona future as he picked up his fourth European Golden Shoe award.
The superstar forward's current deal is due to expire next June and, despite La Blaugrana hinting that he was set to extend his stay in Catalonia, reports have claimed that Messi is still yet to fully commit himself to Barca's cause.
The Daily Mirror has reported that the 30-year-old chose not to respond to queries over the messy contractual saga as he picked up his first European Golden Shoe award in four seasons.
The red top stated that Spanish news outlet Marca had gained an exclusive interview with the mercurial Argentinian but, ahead of that interview being published, revealed that Messi refused to entertain questions over his future.
Marca director Juan Ignacio Gallardo, spoke before the bash and stated that his people had been instructed not to ask Messi about where his future may lie after next summer's World Cup in Russia.
He said: “I know that everyone is thinking about the renovation of your contract with Barcelona, but today we are here to pay homage to you and nothing can take the focus away from our precious gala,” said Gallardo.
“There will be time to talk about contract renewals later. Today we are speaking about the Golden Boot, delivered by ESM and Marca.”
Messi's father Jorge is believed to have signed three contracts that tie his son down to Barcelona until the summer of 2021, but the La Masia academy product is not thought to have penned the same paperwork as of yet.
That has led to suggestions that Messi is still mulling over where his career lies from next summer onwards, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain both installed as potential destinations for the Barca legend.
Messi opted to forego walking the red carpet at the Golden Shoe's prestigious event, which was held at the Antigua Estrella Damm Fabrica, and instead entered the ceremony via a back door to sneak past the assembled papparazzi.
Messi's Barca teammates, including past winner Luis Suarez, were also in attendance but declined to comment on his future too.