Messi will become world's highest-paid player this summer, vows Barcelona president Bartomeu

The Argentina international will be rewarded with a pay rise at the end of the season, according to the Blaugrana supremo, who wants the 26-year-old to retire at Camp Nou

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that Lionel Messi will sign a new and improved contract with the Catalans at the end of the season that will make him the best-paid player in the world.

The Blaugrana supremo recently already stated that the Liga champions are keen to reward the Argentina international for his sustained excellence and has now made it clear that the aim now is to persuade the 26-year-old attacker to commit himself to the club for the remainder of his career.

"We want him to be the world's best-paid player and during summer everything will be sorted," Bartomeu was quoted as saying by AS.

"We won't sell him. He's with us and hopefully he will retire at the Camp Nou."

The Barcelona president also had his say on Carles Puyol's announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the 2013-14 campaign.

"I don't know what he will do in the near future, but I'm convinced he will come back to the club because he still has so much to give," Bartomeu said of the veteran defender.

"He's been an example for all of us with his fighting spirit. What he's achieved at Barca is sensational."

Puyol has racked up nearly 400 La Liga appearances for the Blaugrana since making his first-team debut during the 1999-2000 season.